Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Theory, Method and Research
- Jonathan A Smith - Birkbeck College, UK
- Paul Flowers - Glasgow Caledonian University, UK
- Michael Larkin
"'It is not often I can use "accessible" and "phenomenology" in the same sentence, but reading the new book, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis…certainly provides me the occasion to do so. I can say this because these authors provide an engaging and clear introduction to a relatively new analytical approach"
--The Weekly Qualitative Report
The first chapter outlines the theoretical foundations for IPA. It discusses phenomenology, hermeneutics, and idiography and how they have been taken up by IPA. The next four chapters provide detailed, step by step guidelines to conducting IPA research: study design, data collection and interviewing, data analysis, and writing up. In the next section, the authors give extended worked examples from their own studies in health, sexuality, psychological distress, and identity to illustrate the breadth and depth of IPA research. Each of these chapters also offers a guide to other good exemplars of IPA research in the designated area. The final section of the book considers how IPA connects with other contemporary qualitative approaches like discourse and narrative analysis and how it addresses issues to do with validity.
The book is written in an accessible style and will be extremely useful to students and researchers in psychology and related disciplines in the health and social sciences.
'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' -
Psychology: Learning and Teaching, Volume 9, Number 1
This is a clear and informative guide to IPA which is particularly relevant to researchers completing a professional doctorate using IPA methodology.
Really easy to understand as an intro to phenomenology and gives great guidance on the process required.
An excellent, clear and authoritative introduction to IPA.
A useful book for research skills in qualitative analysis.
an excellent informative book for both novice and experienced researchers
An excellent text, providing detailed theory and history of IPA
I highly recommend this book! This text clearly and concisely details the IPA process and is particularly useful for complete beginners as well as experienced researchers.
Excellent research method and book . Clearly written and can help you through a method that is often hard to understand. Used for my own research at Phd level and students degree level
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis provides a thought provoking and accessible resource for any student or practitioner who wants to engage with this stimulating method of analysis.