Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Jonathan A. Smith is Professor of Psychology at Birkbeck University of London, UK where he leads the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) research group. He has written many articles applying IPA to a range of areas in health, clinical and social psychology. He is co- author (with Paul Flowers and Michael Larkin) of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis: Theory, Method and Research (Sage, 2009). He also has a wider interest in qualitative psychology generally and has co-edited a number of books in the area.

• 1. Introduction2. The theoretical foundations of IPA3. Planning an IPA research study4. Collecting data5. Analysis6. Writing7. Advanced designs and innovative approches8. Connecting IPA with perspectives in the human sciences9. Assessing validity and quality10. Research Exemplar A: Health and illness11. Research Exemplar B: Psychological distress12. Research Exemplar C: Identity and life transitions13. Conclusion and reflections on future developments

I have been using this book since it was published - recommending it to undergraduate and postgraduate students both as the definitive account of the IPA approach and as an accessible introduction to experiential qualitative research more broadly. The chapters on designing an IPA study, collecting and analysing data, and writing up an IPA study in particular are excellent...This book remains an invaluable addition to the toolkit of resources for teachers and students of qualitative research, and I thoroughly recommend it to both.