Oldal 26 [26]
24 a USING INTERPRETATIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
1.2.4. IPA research design
IPA is a new approach even in the international context of gualitative psycho¬
logical research. In this sub-chapter of the thesis the aim is to give a summary
of IPAs research design; the research plan and research question, the data
collection process, the process of analysis and the ways of ensuring validity
and trustworthiness.
1.2.4.1. Research plan and research question
When forming a research question the researcher should be aware of IPA‘s
ability to examine the way people perceive and interpret their experiences.
Therefore, the research question is open, explorative, focusing on processes
(and not on results), and aims to unfold the meaning (and not consequences)
of a phenomenon. The research question refers to a particular context (with
IPA comparison of different contexts is not possible). According to Smith et
al. (2009), two different levels of the research question could be applied. The
primary (explorative and open-ended) research question is followed by a
theory-driven (secondary) research question (Smith et al., 2009). For example,
the primary question could be: How people interpret the experience of decid¬
ing on medical treatment? The secondary question could be: What theory
could explain these interpretations?
1.2.4.2. Data collection
During an IPA study sampling must be consistent with the qualitative para¬
digm in general and with IPA’s inquiry. A purposive sample is suggested,
which means recruiting participants who could offer an insight into a par¬
ticular experience, and they provide access to a particular perspective. That
is why the homogenous sample is beneficial and recruiting participants for
whom the research question is relevant (participants who have personal ex¬
perience of the phenomenon) is inevitable. Due to IPA is committed to idio¬
graphic inquiry and examines each case in great detail small sample size
should be involved (Eatough & Smith, 2008; Smith et al., 2009; Smith &
Osborn, 2007). According to Smith et al. (2009), a default sample size is n =
3-6 which is enough to discover similarities and differences across the cases.
For data collection, semi-structured or unstructured interviews are the
most suitable. Since the aim of an IPA study is to examine how the participant
talks about and makes sense of the experience during the interview the re¬
searcher should facilitate comfortable interaction and enable the participant
to provide a detailed account. Open-ended and process-oriented questions
should be asked, and questions should focus on the personal interpretation