Table of Contents

Series Foreword-Clara E. Hill and Sarah Knox

Chapter : What Is Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis?
   A Note on Terminology
   Theoretical Underpinnings of IPA

Chapter 2: Designing an IPA Study
   Choosing a Topic and a Research Question
   Determining What Type of Data to Collect
   Sampling and Recruiting Participants
   Practical and Ethical Considerations

Chapter 3: Collecting Data
   Rationale for an Interview Guide
   How to Design an Interview Guide
   Conducting the Interview
   Transcription

Chapter 4: Analyzing the Data: Starting With the First Case
   Step . Reading and Exploratory Notes
   Step 2. Formulating Experiential Statements
   Step 3. Finding Connections and Clustering Experiential Statements
   Step 4. Compiling the Table of Person Experiential Themes
   Some More Thoughts on Clustering and Compiling
   One Case or More Than One Case?

Chapter 5: Cross-Case Analysis

Chapter : Writing Up the Study
   Results Section
   Other Sections of an IPA Manuscript

Chapter 7: Variations on the Method and More Complex Designs

Chapter 8: Methodological Integrity

Chapter 9: Summary and Conclusions
   Deciding Whether IPA Is the Right Methodology for You
   Concluding Words

Appendix: Exemplar Studies
References
Index
About the Authors
About the Series Editors
 

About the Author

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.

Reviews

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