The book will provide a theoretical and practical exploration of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) for Social Work research. The reader will take a journey through how lived experience can be discovered, how effective social work research can be designed and explore practical strategies for maximising quality. The book will explore the specific fit of IPA with social work as a professional practice drawing together values, skills and knowledge for eliciting, responding to and representing accounts of lived experience. The book will also consider the opportunities that IPA offers for the future of producing professional social work knowledge.

This text will be a distinctive contribution to the creation of knowledge for social work practice. IPA is a methodology that enables exploration of the lived experience, which is a best fit with social work, a profession underpinned by working with those whose lived experience can lead to intervention from a social worker.