Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

'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 th... Les mer

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

'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". Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) is an increasingly popular approach to qualitative inquiry. This handy text covers its theoretical foundations and provides a detailed guide to conducting IPA research. Extended worked examples from the authors' own studies in health, sexuality, psychological distress and identity illustrate the breadth and depth of IPA research. Each of the 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.

PART ONE: DOING IPA: Theory and Method The Theoretical Foundations of IPA Planning an IPA Research Study Collecting Data Analysis Writing up PART TWO: IPA RESEARCH Health and Illness Sex and Sexuality Psychological Distress Life Transitions and Identity PART THREE: CURRENT ISSUES FOR IPA Assessing Validity The Relationship between IPA and Other Approaches Conclusion and Reflections on Future Developments

Jonathan A. Smith is Professor of Psychology at Birkbeck University of London. His main interests lie in the application of qualitative methods in psychology. He has edited a number of books in this area. He has also developed a particular qualitative approach, interpretative phenomenological analysis, and employed it in a wide range of research projects in psychology. Lukk