A critical evaluation of the use of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) in health psychology

2005/12/21 by Joanna M. Brocki, Alison J. Wearden, Alison Wearden · 6 citations
Arts and Humanities · Health Professions · Psychology · #Mental Health and Psychiatry #Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare #Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications

paper · doi:10.1080/14768320500230185

openalex publication_date 2005/12/21 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31

Abstract

With the burgeoning use of qualitative methods in health research, criteria for judging their value become increasingly necessary. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) is a distinctive approach to conducting qualitative research being used with increasing frequency in published studies. A systematic literature review was undertaken to identify published papers in the area of health psychology employing IPA. A total of 52 articles are reviewed here in terms of the following: methods of data collection, sampling, assessing wider applicability of research and adherence to the theoretical foundations and procedures of IPA. IPA seems applicable and useful in a wide variety of research topics. The lack of attention sometimes afforded to the interpretative facet of the approach is discussed.

Citations

• Handbook of Psychology and Health

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