Thematic Analysis
- First Online: 02 January 2023
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- Vicki Squires 4
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Thematic analysis is a method of qualitative data analysis that was first described in the 1970s (Joffe, Harper and Thompson (eds), Qualitative Research Methods in Mental Health and Psychotherapy: A Guide for Students and Practitioners, Wiley-Blackwell, 2012) but became more prominent at the end of the 1990s with researchers such as Boyatzis ( 1998 ) and Hayes ( 1997 ) (as cited in Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2012). Thematic analysis. In H. Cooper (Ed.), APA Handbook of Research Methods in Psychology (vol.2) (pp. 57–71). American Psychological Association.). As qualitfvecome more accepted across social science disciplines and now across health professions education, the need for systematic methods to analyze qualitative sets is more accentuated (Castleberry and Nolen, Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning 10:807–815, 2018). ( Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2012). Thematic analysis. In H. Cooper (Ed.), APA Handbook of Research Methods in Psychology (vol.2) (pp. 57–71). American Psychological Association.) highlighted that thematic analysis is “an accessible, flexible, and increasingly popular method of qualitative data analysis” (p. 57). Although thematic analysis shares similarities with other methodologies that have systematic processes for analyzing data such as Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis or grounded theory, it does not “require the detailed theoretical and technological knowledge” of these approaches (Braun and Clarke, Qualitative Research in Psychology 3:77–101, 2006). However, (Braun and Clarke, Qualitative Research in Psychology 3:77–101, 2006) emphasized that the theoretical position of the study needs to be made explicit, as there are inherent assumptions regarding the nature of the data that has been analyzed.
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A worked example of Braun and Clarke’s approach to reflexive thematic analysis
Qualitative Research and Content Analysis
Attempting rigour and replicability in thematic analysis of qualitative research data; a case study of codebook development
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2012). Thematic analysis. In H. Cooper (Ed.), APA handbook of research methods in psychology (vol.2) (pp. 57–71). American Psychological Association.
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Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3 , 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
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Fereday, J., & Muir-Cochrane, E. (2006). Demonstrating rigor using thematic analysis: A hybrid approach of inductive and deductive coding and theme development. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 5 , 1–11.
Hayes, N. (1997). Theory-led thematic analysis: Social identification in small companies. In N. Hayes (Ed.), Doing qualitative analysis in psychology (pp. 93–114). Psychology Press.
Joffe, H. (2012). Thematic analysis. In D. Harper & A. Thompson (Eds.), Qualitative research methods in mental health and psychotherapy: A guide for students and practitioners (pp. 203–223). Wiley-Blackwell.
Nowell, L. S., Norris, J. M., White, D. E., & Moules, N. J. (2017). Thematic analysis: Striving to meet the trustworthiness criteria. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16 , 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917733847
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Additional Resources
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2019). Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11 (4), 589–597. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1628806
Maguire, M., & Delahunt, B. (2017). Doing a thematic analysis: A practical, step-by-step guide for learning and teaching scholars. All Ireland Journal of Higher Education , 9 (3), 3351–3364. http://ojs.aishe.org/index.php/aishe-j/article/view/335
Thematic analysis:-7:23
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Thematic analysis (the ‘Braun & Clarke’ way): an introduction-1:02:19
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zFcC10vOVY
Understanding Thematic Analysis: 6 steps to perform Thematic Analysis- 6:26
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WodStS6nQSk
Vaismoradi, M., Turunen, H., & Bondas, T. (2013). Content analysis and thematic analysis: Implications for conducting a qualitative descriptive study. Nursing & Health Sciences, 15 (3), 398–405. https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12048
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Squires, V. (2023). Thematic Analysis. In: Okoko, J.M., Tunison, S., Walker, K.D. (eds) Varieties of Qualitative Research Methods. Springer Texts in Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04394-9_72
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Thematic Analysis in Qualitative Research
2018, Qualitative techniques for workplace data analysis
The popularity of qualitative methods in social science research is a well-noted and most welcomed fact. Thematic analysis, the often-used methods of qualitative research, provides concise description and interpretation in terms of themes and patterns from a data set. The application of thematic analysis requires trained expertise and should not be used in a prescriptive, linear, and inflexible manner while analyzing data. It should rather be implemented in relation to research question and data availability. To ensure its proper usage, Braun and Clarke have propounded the simplest yet effective six-step method to conduct thematic analysis. In spite of its systematic step-driven process, thematic analysis provides core skills to conduct different other forms of qualitative analysis. Thematic analysis, through its theoretical freedom, flexibility, rich and detailed yet complex analytical account has emerged as the widely used and most effective qualitative research tool in social and organizational context.
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Aim: Our aim is to offer and illustrates a novel meta-methodology to enhance the rigour of method selection and understanding of results in pluralist qualitative research (PQR). Method: To do so, we make innovative use of Braun and Clarke’s (2006) articulation of four discrete dimensions characterising different forms of thematic analysis. We provide secondary analyses of an interview from the Social Media, Men who have Sex with Men and Sexual Health project using critical discursive psychology, dialogical analysis, interpretative phenomenological analysis, and psychosocial narrative analysis. Results: All four methods identified aspects of three central foci: Compartmentalisation, Detachment, and Jouissance. Conclusion: We discuss how our proposed meta-methodology provides a rationale for the selection of methods in a PQR, offer evidence that it can anticipate the relative similarity in focus of the methods employed, and argue that our meta-methodology reveals the possibility of identifying an ‘axial’ or ‘hub’ method’ of a PQR which might be particularly fruitful in exploring commonalities and differences in results. Finally, we examine the synergies and challenges of combining pairs of the methods we used.
Patrick Ngulube
In this chapter, we will discuss the analysis and interpretation of qualitative data as a kind of follow through on Chapter 7 (seven) discussions. The approaches to qualitative and quantitative data analysis are different, as illustrated in table 8.1 below. The remarkable growth of qualitative research in many disciplines, including business and management (Myers, 2009), health and social sciences (Atkinson, Coffey & Delamont, 2001; Flick, 2002), and psychology (Madill & Gough, 2008), makes it imperative for researchers to be familiar with qualitative data analysis. An understanding of qualitative data analysis is fundamental to their “systematic search for meaning” (Hatch, 2002:148) in their data. Qualitative data analysis in one of the most important steps in the qualitative research process (Leech & Onwuegbuzie, 2007) because it assists researchers to make sense of their qualitative data. The process of qualitative data analysis is “labour intensive and time-consuming” (Lofland, Snow, Anderson & Lofland, and 2006:196). This is partly due to the fact that qualitative research produces “large amounts of contextually laden, subjective, and richly detailed data” (Byrne, 2001:904).
Cathy Theaker
Aims: The aim of this exploratory study was to extend phenomenological knowledge in the use of mindfulness in coaching. The broad research question asked was: ‘What are coaches’ experiences of using mindfulness in their practice? Methods: A qualitative methodological interpretive approach was taken with coaches participating in semi-structured interviews, using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) from a social constructionist framework (Denzin & Lincoln, 1994) Findings: Thematic analysis generated five themes which could be taken forward in future research. The findings demonstrate participants’ perceptions that mindfulness becomes a ‘way of being’, embodied into the ‘self’ as coach. They explored how personal mindfulness practice impacts themselves as coaches in terms of enhancing qualities such as presence, attunement, self-awareness, self-regulation, acceptance and self-care, qualities which may impact the coaching relationship and client outcomes. Their journey to integration reflected the pathway proposed by Germer et al (2005) and they discussed how they introduce and use mindfulness tools with clients, reporting a positive impact on clients overall. Challenges and concerns were also raised and the wider implications of mindfulness as transformation and a spiritual path were discussed. Recommendations for future research and practice are also made.
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A step-by-step systematic thematic analysis process has been introduced, which can be used in qualitative research to develop a conceptual model on the basis of the research findings. The embeddedness of a step-by-step thematic analysis process is another feature that distinguishes inductive thematic analysis from Braun and Clarke's (2006 ...
Qualitative data analysis is the process of organising, eliciting meaning, and presenting conclusions from collected data. It could be a tedious process, as it. involves a large volume of data ...
The second edition of this text: Introduces a fifth, additional qualitative approach, Thematic Analysis Explores the ethical challenges of qualitative work Takes a look at mixed methods and pluralist research Includes worked-out ... Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise is the first book to offer an in-depth survey of established and emerging
theming, but after a thematic analysis session.4 12 We present linear steps, but as qualitative research is usually iterative, so too is thematic analysis.15 Qualitative researchers circle back to earlier work to check whether their interpretations still make sense in the light of additional insights, adapting as necessary.
teaching courses in qualitative research could use the whole series, presenting one method at a time to expose students to a range of qualitative methods. ... 4 • Essentials of Thematic Analysis 15 years ago, Braun a nd Clarke (2006) argued that TA was taken for granted, commonly deployed, and yet poorly described and delineated. The landscape
Thematic Analysis 48 Virginia Braun, Victoria Clarke, Nikki Hayfield, and Gareth Terry Contents ... in qualitative research - TA started to appear as a particular approach for analyzing qualitative data in the health and social sciences (e.g., Dapkus1985; Aronson 1994). But it was the countless published papers that described some version of
Thematic analysis is a very use ful tool for qua litative data analysis in both the. academic and professional realms. Its versatility with other qualitative data. analysis methods makes it an ...
Essentially, thematic analysis is. a flexible tool that provides a qualitative, de tailed and nuanced account of data. (Braun/Clarke 2006), whereas content analysis is regarded as a more ...
Qualitative Research Muhammad Naeem1, Wilson Ozuem2 , Kerry Howell3, and Silvia Ranfagni4 Abstract Thematic analysis is a highly popular technique among qualitative researchers for analyzing qualitative data, which usually comprises thick descriptive data. However, the application and use of thematic analysis has also involved complications due to
Abstract. Thematic analysis is a widely used, yet often misunderstood, method of qualitative data analysis. It is a useful and accessible tool for qualitative researchers, but confusion regarding the method's philosophical underpinnings and imprecision in how it has been described have complicated its use and acceptance among researchers.
I. Data Interpretation. Firstly, good qualitative research needs to be able to draw interpretations and be consistent with the data that is collected. With this in mind, Thematic Analysis is capable to detect and identify, e.g. factors or variables that influence any issue generated by the participants.
Thematic analysis (TA) is a commonly used approach in qualitative research. TA has been widely applied in various disciplines such as psychology, sociology, and anthropology, and is now increasingly employed in pharmacy and healthcare research. However, pharmacy researchers may not be familiar with TA.
qualitative research, research methods, thematic analysis Qualitative research is a diverse field that employs a variety of analytic techniques to produce an understanding of rich datasets. Among the more common techniques used by qualitative researchers, thematic analysis involves the identification of recurring patterns that ...
PDF | Until recently, thematic analysis (TA) was a widely used yet poorly defined method of qualitative data analysis. The few texts (Boyatzis, 1998;... | Find, read and cite all the research you ...
Thematic Analysis is an appropriate method for any study where large amounts of qualitative data need to be systematically sorted, coded, and analyzed (Castleberry & Nolen, 2018).Furthermore, it is a "useful method for examining the perspectives of different research participants, highlighting similarities and differences, and generating unanticipated insights" (Nowell, et al., 2017, p. 2).
Keywords: rigor, fl exibility, thematic analysis, qualitative research Introduction Thematic analysis is a qualitative research method that researchers use to systematically organise and analyse complex data sets. It is a search for themes that can capture the narratives available in the account of data sets. It involves the identi cation of ...
When to use thematic analysis. Thematic analysis is a good approach to research where you're trying to find out something about people's views, opinions, knowledge, experiences or values from a set of qualitative data - for example, interview transcripts, social media profiles, or survey responses. Some types of research questions you might use thematic analysis to answer:
Thematic analysis is a poorly demarcated and rare ly-acknowledged, yet widely-u sed qualitative. analytic method (see Boyatzis, 1998; Roulsto n, 2001) within and beyond psychology. In this paper ...
197 Chapter 9 Thematic Analysis in Qualitative Research Anindita Majumdar University of Calcutta, India ABSTRACT The popularity of qualitative methods in social science research is a well-noted and most welcomed fact. Thematic analysis, the often-used methods of qualitative research, provides concise description and interpretation in terms of ...
PDF | On Sep 5, 2023, H. S. R. Rosairo published Thematic Analysis in Qualitative Research | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate