International Journal of Education & Literacy Studies ISSN 2202-9478 Vol. 5 No. 2; April 2017 Australian International Academic Centre, Australia The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA): A Guide to a Good Qualitative Research Approach Abayomi Alase School of Education, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA E-mail: samuel-alase.a@husky.neu.edu; aalase@yahoo.com Received: 27-02-2017 Accepted: 30-03-2017 Published: 30-04-2017 doi:10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.5n.2p.9 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.5n.2p.9 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). Keywords: Interpretative phenomenology analysis, IPA, qualitative research method approach 1. Introduction Researchers who conduct research projects of different kinds may find it frustrating to decide on the qualitative research approach to use for their research projects. The truth of the matter is that it is not how many research approaches are out there in qualitative research methodology, but which one is flexible enough and ‘participant-oriented’ enough to get to the real ‘lived experiences’ of the research participants. As a guide for many new and novice researchers who are interested in conducting research projects in the following disciplines; education, sociology, psychology, political science, anthropology, economics, etc., the author felt it is important to update the research methodological approach he used in conducting his thesis research study to help inform and guide new researchers to a more comprehensive qualitative methodological tradition, The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach. The fact of the matter is that the thought of deciding on what research tradition or approach to use in a qualitative research study can be daunting and tedious. However, the good news is that qualitative researchers can take comfort in the fact that they have, at least, taken the first important step, the decision to conduct a qualitative research study. As in any life endeavor that has adversarial (contrarian) dimension, the issue that consumes many researchers of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies is what method can produce long lasting, credible, and transferable research findings. As such both methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) are somewhat in a ‘state of competition’ to see what methodology can produce the grandest research products. With all that said, it is not the objective of this paper to cast blame or fault on either side; or even promote one side over the other. The primary objective and essence of this paper are to update and expand on the process that the author undertook in his thesis methodological journey; the author wants to show how advantageous the benefits are for utilizing the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). IPA approach can afford new and novice researchers the opportunity to explore, in more detail, the ‘lived experiences’ of the research participants. Smith, Flowers, and Larkin (2009), three of the most acknowledged modern-day minds (theorists) in the IPA approach, stated that “IPA is a qualitative research approach committed to the examination of how people make sense of their major life experiences” (p. 1). Additionally, they asserted that “IPA shares the views that human beings are sense-making creatures, and therefore the accounts which participants provide will reflect their attempts to make sense of their experience” (p. 4). As Flourishing Creativity & Literacy