Psychology

The Use of Qualitative Theory Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) in “Policeman or Friend? Dilemmas in Working with Homeless Young People in the United Kingdom”

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McGrath and Pistrang (2007) examine the relationships between staff and residents at U.K. homeless youth hostels, using personal interviews with their subjects. It is a qualitative study which uses a more subjective method of data analysis and deals with descriptions and results that can be observed but not measured. They are discussing the nature and quality of the client/caseworker relationships, therefore it is a qualitative study (Creswell, 2013). According to the authors, their research study aims to describe how subjects in youth homeless hostels experienced and felt about the client/caseworker relationship, what was working and what was seen as problematic or negative. The authors chose a qualitative framework utilizing personal interviews because “little is known about the relationship between homeless young people and hostel staff, a qualitative, discovery-oriented approach seemed appropriate” (McGrath & Pistrang, 2007, p. 592). Because the authors focus on feelings, ideas and emotions, and look for general themes that contribute to the “knowledge base” of those working with homeless youth, the subjective qualitative analysis is a logical choice.

The interviews were analyzed using the method of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis or IPA (Smith & Osborn, 2003). IPA is similar to grounded therapy approach (Corbin & Strauss 1998). IPA explores subject’s perceptions and experiences of their personal world. However, it is “grounded”, meaning it takes into account that this process can distorted by the researcher’s own belief systems and ideas about the situation. Therefore, IPA data analysis involves a flexible interpretation process that identifies common themes that identify essential aspects of subjects personal accounts. It looks for...