Essentials of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Jonathan A. Smith, DPhil, is a professor of psychology at Birkbeck University of London, United Kingdom, where he leads the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) Research Group and teaches qualitative methods at all levels. Previously, he held academic positions at the Universities of Keele and Sheffield after completing his doctorate at the University of Oxford. He developed IPA as a particular experiential qualitative approach in psychology, and he has applied it to a wide range of research questions, many in health and illness. He was elected an Honorary Fellow of the British Psychological Society in 2 2 .Isabella E. Nizza is a qualitative researcher who specializes in researching the lived experience of chronic health conditions using IPA. For many years a corporate trainer and consultant, she is now part of the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Research Group within the Department of Psychological Sciences at Birkbeck University of London, where she also teaches qualitative methods. At the moment, she is working on a randomized controlled trial testing a psychological support intervention for young people with epilepsy, using IPA to assess the intervention amp rsquo s psychological outcomes and process.

• Series Foreword-Clara E. Hill and Sarah KnoxChapter : What Is Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis?A Note on TerminologyTheoretical Underpinnings of IPAChapter 2: Designing an IPA StudyChoosing a Topic and a Research QuestionDetermining What Type of Data to CollectSampling and Recruiting ParticipantsPractical and Ethical ConsiderationsChapter 3: Collecting DataRationale for an Interview GuideHow to Design an Interview GuideConducting the InterviewTranscriptionChapter 4: Analyzing the Data: Starting With the First CaseStep . Reading and Exploratory NotesStep 2. Formulating Experiential StatementsStep 3. Finding Connections and Clustering Experiential StatementsStep 4. Compiling the Table of Person Experiential ThemesSome More Thoughts on Clustering and CompilingOne Case or More Than One Case?Chapter 5: Cross-Case AnalysisChapter : Writing Up the StudyResults SectionOther Sections of an IPA ManuscriptChapter 7: Variations on the Method and More Complex DesignsChapter 8: Methodological IntegrityChapter 9: Summary and ConclusionsDeciding Whether IPA Is the Right Methodology for YouConcluding WordsAppendix: Exemplar StudiesReferencesIndexAbout the AuthorsAbout the Series Editors

This is an excellent guide to the theory and practice of interpretative phenomenological analysis it is well written, carefully organized, engaging, and accessible. The authors have a remarkable knack for anticipating and effectively answering the questions that are typically raised by novice researchers as well as guiding them through the intricacies of qualitative research. - Steen Halling, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychology, Seattle University, Seattle, WA, United States From setting the background context to interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) through to offering exemplar studies, this book gives a thorough introduction to the steps a novice researcher will need to follow to conduct their first study using this method. The clear and concise summary also serves as an excellent refresher for anyone returning to IPA as an analytic method after some time away. An excellent addition to qualitative methodology bookshelves. - Jane Montague, PhD, School of Psychology, University of Derby, Derby, United Kingdom