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Cited by 1,088Qualitative Research Methods and EthicsQualitative Research Methods and ApplicationsPhenomenology and Existential Philosophy

The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA): A Guide to a Good Qualitative Research Approach

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Alase, Abayomi·2017·International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies
DOI 10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.5n.2p.9
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Abstract

As a research methodology, qualitative research method infuses an added advantage to the exploratory capability that researchers need to explore and investigate their research studies. Qualitative methodology allows researchers to advance and apply their interpersonal and subjectivity skills to their research exploratory processes. However, in a study with an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach, the advantageous elements of the study quadruple because of the bonding relationship that the approach allows for the researchers to develop with their research participants. Furthermore, as a qualitative research approach, IPA gives researchers the best opportunity to understand the innermost deliberation of the ‘lived experiences’ of research participants. As an approach that is ‘participant-oriented’, interpretative phenomenological analysis approach allows the interviewees (research participants) to express themselves and their ‘lived experience’ stories the way they see fit without any distortion and/or prosecution. Therefore, utilizing the IPA approach in a qualitative research study reiterates the fact that its main objective and essence are to explore the ‘lived experiences’ of the research participants and allow them to narrate the research findings through their ‘lived experiences’. As such, this paper discusses the historical background of phenomenology as both a theory and a qualitative research approach, an approach that has transitioned into an interpretative analytical tradition. Furthermore, as a resource tool to novice qualitative researchers, this paper provides a step-by-step comprehensive guide to help prepare and equip researchers with ways to utilize and apply the IPA approach in their qualitative research studies. More importantly, this paper also provides an advanced in-depth analysis and usability application for the IPA approach in a qualitatively conducted research study. As such, this paper completely contrasted itself from many books and articles that are written with the premise of providing useful and in-depth information on the subject-matter (phenomenology, as a qualitative approach).

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  • IPA is particularly well suited for examining individual subjective experiences within their contextual and phenomenological dimensions.

    “IPA isparticularly well suited for examining individual subjective experiences within their contextual and phenomenological dimensions”

    From A Study of Teachers’ Attitudes towards Digital Educational Technologies: a Qualitative Analysis (2026) · cites this paper as Alase 2017

    The Abstract says IPA offers a way to understand participants’ lived experiences and lets them tell their stories as they see fit, supporting its suitability for examining subjective experience. The passages in our copy do not specifically address examining those experiences in their contextual dimensions. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Bracketing, the process in which the researcher makes their assumptions explicit to reduce bias in analysis, occurred prior to analyzing each interview.

    “Bracketing, the process in which the researcher makes their assumptions explicit to reduce bias in analysis, occurred prior to analyzing each interview (Alase, 2017).”

    From “Having One Person Tell Me I Didn’t Do the Wrong Thing”: The Impact of Support on the Post-Sexual Assault Exam Experience (2024) · cites this paper as Alase, 2017

    The available Abstract describes IPA but does not discuss bracketing or making assumptions explicit before interview analysis. Searches for “bracketing” and the claimed procedure returned only the Abstract, References, and article-page text; the substantive PDF text does not appear in the indexed copy, so the claim cannot be checked. (LLM, conf=0.72)

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 6

  1. Alase, A. O. (2016). The impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) on small-sized publicly traded companies and their communities (Unpublished doctoral dissertation), Northeastern University.
  2. Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative Inquiry and research design choosing among five approaches (3rd Ed). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  3. Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldana, J. (2013). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (3rd Ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  4. Polkinghorne, D. E. (1989). Phenomenological research methods. In R. S. Valle & S. Halling (Eds.). Existential phenomenological perspectives in psychology (pp. 41–60). New York Plenum.
  5. Rubin, H. J. & Rubin, I. S. (2012). Qualitative interviewing the art of hearing data (3rd Ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  6. Thomas, D. R. (2006). A general inductive approach for analyzing qualitative evaluation data. American Journal of Evaluation, 27(2), 237-246.

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Authors
Alase, A.
Affiliations
Northeastern University (US)
Corresponding author
Alase, Abayomi
ORCID
Alase, Abayomi
Venue
International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies
Publisher
Australian International Academic Centre
Published
2017-04-30
Volume
5
Issue
2
Pages
9
ISSN
2202-9478 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.5n.2p.9
OpenAlex
W2610541535
Cited by
1,088
References
21
Citations by year
2026: 142 · 2025: 198 · 2024: 173 · 2023: 170 · 2022: 170 · 2021: 122 · 2020: 69 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1
FWCI
77.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics
  • Social Sciences › Education › Qualitative Research Methods and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy
Keywords
interpretative phenomenological analysis, phenomenology, lived experience, qualitative research methodology, researcher-participant relationship, history of phenomenology

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