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24 a USING INTERPRETATIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS 1.2.4. IPA research design IPA is a new approach even in the international context of gualitative psychological 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 deciding 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 paradigm in general and with IPA’s inquiry. A purposive sample is suggested, which means recruiting participants who could offer an insight into a particular 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 experience of the phenomenon) is inevitable. Due to IPA is committed to idiographic 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 researcher 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
