Success in Social Work Research Series

BASW are delighted to launch a webinar series connecting social workers with the research community. Topics throughout the year will showcase current research and help practitioners to translate findings into tangible enhancements to social work UK wide. We will also hear from practicing social workers who are undertaking research and the research methods that busy practitioners can use to carry out research projects in the workplace.

FREE for BASW members

£4 + VAT (£4.80) for non members

Replays will be made available 5 working days post session in the BASW members area of the website

If you would like to submit a proposal to host a session in the future, please contact ProfDE@basw.co.uk

Replay Library (BASW membership required to access)

08.07.2025 Demystifying Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) for social work research and practice

Dr Gillian Ferguson and Professor Sarah Vicary

Click to view slides and replay

IPA is a methodology for research that focuses on learning from lived experience. The course explores a holistic model of IPA that has a focus on creating new knowledge and making a difference for social work.

IPA is ideal for practitioners and academics who want to gather rich data about the nature of people’s experiences and the meaning this has for people. The course would explore how IPA has a good fit with social work professional values and interventions offering an essential contribution to our work.

Examples of studies will be used to illustrate the potential of IPA as one of the methods that can delve into lived experience and represent creative, detailed accounts as evidence to inform practice.

The webinar would also provide an overview of the alignment of IPA with professional and regulatory standards in education and training in the UK social work education and continuing learning context.