Compare and contrast - IPA and TA

Question 1

IPA and TA: aims

Answer 1

Both aim to understand human experiences through participants accounts
Both use coding and theme development to analyse data

but

IPA - Aims to explore how individuals make sense of their personal, lived experiences.

TA - Aims to identify patterns of meaning across a dataset — can be applied broadly, not always deeply.

Question 2

IPA and TA: theoretical underpinnings

Answer 2

IPA - Based on phenomenology, hermeneutics (interpretation), and idiography (focus on the individual).

TA - theoretically flexible

Question 3

IPA and TA: epistemology

Answer 3

IPA - Typically interpretivist/constructivist epistemology.

TA - flexible

Question 4

IPA and TA: sample

Answer 4

IPA - small

TA - can be small or large

Question 5

IPA and TA: analysis

Answer 5

IPA - Step-by-step, structured analysis:
1. Read and re-read
2. Initial noting (descriptive, linguistic, conceptual)
3. Develop emergent themes
4. Identify connections and patterns
5. Repeat across cases, then identify shared themes

TA - Six flexible phases:
Familiarisation
Coding
Theme generation
Reviewing themes
Defining and naming themes
Writing up

Question 6

IPA and TA: Outcome

Answer 6

IPA - Produces detailed, nuanced insight into how individuals experience and make sense of a phenomenon.

TA - Produces a thematic map or narrative that summarises key patterns across a dataset.