Research Methods - Thematic Analysis

Question 1

What is thematic analysis?

Answer 1

is a qualitative method for identifying, analysing and reporting patterns within data - focuses on meaning and context

E.G. used to explore resilience and coping mechanisms in narratives of individuals who have experienced trauma, identifying how people describe and make sense of their experience

Question 2

key characteristics of thematic analysis

Answer 2

qualitative focus
inductive + deductive approach
depth of analysis
applications

Question 3

qualitative focus

Answer 3

rich, complex, detailed, account of the data

Question 4

inductive + deductive approach

Answer 4

themes can emerge inductively from the data (bottom-up) or be identified based on pre-existing theories (top-down)

Question 5

depth of analysis

Answer 5

interpreting the underlying meanings and complications of the data

Question 6

applications

Answer 6

used to analyse interview transcripts, focus group discussions, diaries and other narrative forms of data

Question 7

the procedure of thematic analysis

Answer 7

1 familiarise yourself with data (look for meanings/repeated phrases and ideas- done by 2 researchers)
2 generating initial codes (codes can overlap here)
3 search for themes (condenses codes at broader level)
4 reviewing themes (a set of themes that are able to explain all or most of data- some are ‘major’ others ‘sub’)
5 defining and naming themes (themes is defined in a couple sentences- NO OVERLAP)
6 producing the report (report is logical but also with interest)

Question 8

strengths of thematic analysis

Answer 8

useful to analyse qual data whilst KEEPING it qual
checks concurrent validity by applying themes to another piece of data on a similar topic

Question 9

limitations of thematic analysis

Answer 9

lacks objectivity as descriptive themes are used
prone to subjective interpretations (people tend to analyse without knowing context)

Question 10

content vs thematic analysis

Answer 10

1 quant vs qual - content=quant (counts + categorizes) but thematic=qual (identifies + interprets themes)
2 coding approach - content uses pre-defined categories and systematic coding. thematic uses more flexible and interpretive coding
3 depth of analysis - content analysis is objective and uses structured overview. thematic allows for a deeper understanding of data