Giving voice and making sense in interpretative phenomenological analysis

TLDR

Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) combines a phenomenological aim to give voice to participants with an interpretative goal to contextualize their concerns psychologically, yet the literature lacks a clear conceptual link between these two commitments. The authors aim to clarify the relationship between IPA’s phenomenological and interpretative aspects within qualitative psychology. They analyze IPA’s interpretative focus and its epistemological scope, relating it to descriptive phenomenology and grounding the discussion in Heideggerian phenomenology. Illustrated with excerpts from a study on relationship break‑ups, the authors argue that IPA researchers should embrace its interpretative possibilities. Keywords: Heidegger, hermeneutic, IPA methodology, phenomenology.

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, we discuss two complementary commitments of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA): the phenomenological requirement to understand and ‘give voice’ to the concerns of participants; and the interpretative requirement to contextualize and ‘make sense’ of these claims and concerns from a psychological perspective. The methodological and conceptual bases for the relationship between these phenomenological and interpretative aspects of IPA appear to be underdeveloped in the literature. We, therefore, offer some thoughts on the basis of this relationship, and on its context within qualitative psychology. We discuss the epistemological range of IPA's interpretative focus, and its relationship to the more descriptive features of phenomenological analysis. In order to situate our conclusions within a contextualist position, we draw upon concepts from Heideggerian phenomenology. The argument is illustrated by excerpts from our own research on relationship break-up. We conclude by encouraging IPA researchers to embrace the interpretative opportunities that are offered by this approach. Key words: HeideggerhermeneuticIPAmethodologyphenomenology