[ { "Criterion": "Generalizability of findings", "Advantages (Pros)": "IPA approach enables theoretical transferability to other contexts rather than empirical generalizability of the results (Smith et al., 2009).", "Disadvantages (Cones)": "Broad generalizations are largely not feasible when employing the IPA approach (Malim et al., 1992)." }, { "Criterion": "Sample size", "Advantages (Pros)": "Small sample size can be considered as a privilege as it is believed that reduced participants’ numbers can allow for a richer depth of analysis which might be inhibited with a larger number of participants (Smith et al., 2009)", "Disadvantages (Cones)": "Small sample size can be considered as a limitation as it is believed that reduced participants’ numbers may limit broad generalizations of results (Malim et al., 1992)." }, { "Criterion": "Contribution to theory", "Advantages (Pros)": "Theoretical dialogue is the result of using IPA approach in which such approach can influence and contribute to the theory, but it does not necessarily contribute to theory emergent (Caldwell, 2008).", "Disadvantages (Cones)": "Establishing a theory is not the purpose of IPA studies, but their findings can influence and contribute to theory (Caldwell, 2008)." }, { "Criterion": "Purpose of IPA approach", "Advantages (Pros)": "The main aim of the IPA approach is to illustrate, inform and master themes (Smith et al., 2009). Alase (2017) points out that the IPA approach is seen by several researchers and admirers as the most ‘participant-oriented’ qualitative research approach; a research approach that shows respect and sensitivity to the ‘lived experiences’ of the research participants (Smith et al., 2009).", "Disadvantages (Cones)": "To achieve the aim of illustrating, informing and mastering themes, Smith et al. (2009) suggest that the researcher should firmly anchoring findings in direct quotes and metaphors from participants’ accounts. This requires the researcher to be highly skilled in analytic skills. In addition to the interview’s techniques (Polit et al.,2001; Parahoo,2006). This means that the researcher must have high degrees of accuracy and must be mightily alert during data collection and analysis." }, { "Criterion": "Central role of the researcher", "Advantages (Pros)": "The central role of the researcher in the IPA studies is to make sense of the personal lived experiences of research participants when analyzing the data (Smith, 2004). In addition to consider such lived experiences as facts and the only legitimate source of information (Goulding, 2005).", "Disadvantages (Cones)": "The researcher should cautiously go through hermeneutic circle (background and pre-understanding) when making sense of personal lived experiences during data collection and analysis processes (McCane & Mcilfatrinck,2008). This implies that the researcher should create a balance between existing knowledge and pre-existing knowledge while collecting and analyzing the data (completely getting rid of researcher’s bias in a whole is difficult)." }, { "Criterion": "Rigor, validity and quality", "Advantages (Pros)": "Four principles for assessing quality of qualitative research studies, which are: (Yardley, 2000) · Sensitivity to context. · Commitment and rigor. · Transparency and coherence. · Impact and importance. Smith et al. (2009) suggest ways through which such criteria can be achieved when conducting IPA studies. For instance, being open to external audit can help to enhance rigor and fulfill these criteria.", "Disadvantages (Cones)": "Being open to external audit (for instance) can help to enhance rigor and fulfill the criteria mentioned (Smith et al., 2009). This could be time consuming and labor intensive. Further, phenomenological interviews can be costly (Polit et al.,2001; Parahoo,2006). Also, they can be time consuming and labor intensive (Carpenter, 1999)." }, { "Criterion": "Resilience (flexibility) in using various data collection techniques and procedures", "Advantages (Pros)": "The IPA approach offers sufficient resilience in using various data collection techniques and procedures, such as interviews, focus groups, written narrative accounts, diaries and email discussions (Brocki & Wearden, 2006).", "Disadvantages (Cones)": "Data collection procedure associated with the IPA approach is performed through lengthy (1-2 hours) interviews to extract the meanings and subjective interpretations of multiple participants based on their lived experiences (Williams, 2007). Therefore, this procedure can be time consuming (Carpenter, 1999). Additionally, it can be costly and require the interviewer to be highly skilled in interview’s techniques (Polit et al.,2001; Parahoo,2006)." }, { "Criterion": "The applicability of IPA in the healthcare studies", "Advantages (Pros)": "The IPA approach has already been of value in health-related research studies (Smith et al., 2009). IPA helps to understand healthcare and illness from the patient or service user perspective (Biggerstaff & Thompson, 2008).", "Disadvantages (Cones)": "Applying IPA approach in healthcare studies and if patients are the research participants, may create some dilemma for the researcher, particularly when dealing with non-cooperative patients and/or elderly ones. This requires the interviewer to be highly skilled in interview’s techniques (Polit et al.,2001; Parahoo,2006)." }, { "Criterion": "Stages/process of IPA approach", "Advantages (Pros)": "The IPA approach involves a two-stage interpretation process or two-fold sense-making process through which the researcher tries to interpret the participants’ sense making activity (Pringle et al., 2011). This can assist in addressing the wholeness and uniqueness of an individual to give a complete and in-depth picture of the phenomenon under investigation (Malim et al., 1992; Smith et al., 2009).", "Disadvantages (Cones)": "IPA procedure requires the researcher to be highly skilled in analytic skills. In addition to the interview’s techniques (Polit et al.,2001; Parahoo,2006). This means that the researcher must have high degrees of accuracy and must be mightily alert during data collection and analysis which could relatively require long time." }, { "Criterion": "Comprehensiveness (interpretative and hermeneutic elements)", "Advantages (Pros)": "IPA approach stresses the interpretative and hermeneutic elements, focusing on capturing instances on both divergence and commonalities (Smith et al., 2009). IPA allows more room for creativity and freedom than other approaches (Willig, 2001).", "Disadvantages (Cones)": "IPA approach is performed through lengthy (1-2 hours) interviews (Williams, 2007). Achieving comprehensiveness requires extra time and effort to be exerted by the researcher. Therefore, this procedure can be time consuming (Carpenter, 1999). Further, it requires the researcher to be highly skilled in the analytic process. In addition to being highly skilled in interview’s techniques (Polit et al.,2001; Parahoo,2006)." } ]