Thematic analysis

• What is thematic analysis?


  Way of summarising qualitative data
• What doe the researcher do in thematic analysis?


  Looks for themes that recur in narratives and summarise the man themes using quotations from the evidence as support
• How is thematic analysis carried out?


  1. Collecting the data and transcribing it

  2. Familiarises themselves with it - rereading several times

  3. Code the data and put into categories

  4. Looks for recurring themes and patterns

  5. Research provides examples to illustrate the themes

  6. Writes a report
• Strengths of thematic analysis


  - Flexible as it can be applied to a variety of data types

  - Detailed data allows for in depth exploration for participants experiences

  - Participant centred as it ensures their experiences are central to the analysis
• Weaknesses


  - Unreliable as it is based on interpretation from different researchers

  - Might miss variating data