Further Readings

For a comprehensive guide to IPA, see Smith et al’s (2009) book, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis: Theory, Method and Research. This book provides extensive coverage of the theoretical underpinnings of IPA, step-by-step guidance to carrying out an IPA study and detailed illustrations of completed studies. Other useful guides to the theoretical aspects of IPA are offered by Smith (1996) and Eatough and Smith (2017). For more on the practicalities of doing IPA, see Smith and Osborn (2015).

Good examples of IPA studies are Turner et al’s (2002) paper exploring the experience of ex-professional footballers who have subsequently suffered osteoarthritis; Visser and Smith’s (2006) detailed case study of a young man’s ambivalent attitudes towards alcohol; Fox et al’s (2011) research exploring the personal meanings ascribed to eating disorder symptoms by a group of women with various eating issues; and Krzeczkowska et al’s (2018) study of journeys through hepatitis C virus treatment among post-transplant patients with recurrent hepatitis C virus. Like many IPA studies, these address important issues in health-related practice. For other examples of IPA studies, see the studies cited in Box 9.1 in Chapter 9 in the book.