About

IPA refers to Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, which is a psychological qualitative research method used for researching everyday lived experiences. Four major phenomenological philosophers contributed to IPA: Husserl, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, and Sartre. Husserl's work highlighted the significance of focusing on experience and the individual's personal interpretations of that experience. Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty and Sartre developed this further, emphasising that individuals exist in a 'lived world' rather than in isolation. As a result, an individual's participation in the lived world influences their perspective on their lives and experiences. This is an important aspect of IPA because researchers have come to appreciate their participants' complex sense-making processes, and it also relates to the ‘interpretative' aspect of IPA. IPA has two more theoretical orientations, and is informed by the concepts and debates of the philosophy of knowledge which are: hermeneutics and ideography.

This IPA Research Group is a cohesive national and international network of researchers that are interested in particular area of ‘lived experience’ research. Since 2016, we have been holding events throughout the year in TU Dublin, providing members and interested others, with a forum for the discussion on relevant topics while providing a valuable source of mutual support. With our international orientation, we have frequently formed collaborative links between with other Research Groups and as well as other relevant interdisciplinary academic and professional groups