a study (Chapman & Smith, 2002). The framework helps in explanations that give insights to understand human
experience better (Fade, 2004:647).
IPA is both phenomenological and interpretative. It is phenomenological because it “seeks an insider perspective
on the lived experiences of individuals,” and is also interpretive because it “acknowledges the researcher’s
personal beliefs and standpoint and embraces the view that understanding requires interpretation” (Fade,
2004:648). That is, while IPA aims at gaining the participants’ perspective of the phenomena being studied, the
researcher is recognised to be the primary analytical instrument in the process. Through a process of
interpretative activity, the researcher’s conceptualizations of the phenomena are valued for making sense of the
perceptions and experiences of the study subjects (Fade, 2004; Chapman and Smith, 2002).