Thematic Analysis

• Thematic analysis is a what?


  a variation of content analysis
• Key difference between content analysis and thematic analysis?


  thematic analysis DOES NOT START WITH pre-determined behavioural categories (where the frequency is then counted)
• Thematic analysis is what?

  Purely a qualitative analytical method identifying, analysing and reporting themes (patterns)
• What does thematic analysis do?


  Organises, describes and interprets data
• What does a psychologist use the themes reported to do?


  • a psychologist uses these themes to ADDRESS the research or SAY SOMETHING about an ISSUE
  • This is much more than simply summarising the data; a good thematic analysis interprets and MAKES SENSE of it
• 6 stages of thematic analysis?


  1. familiarisation with the data
  2. coding
  3. searching for themes
  4. reviewing themes
  5. defining and naming themes
  6. writing up
• Describe the stage of thematic analysis- STAGE 1?


  Familiarisation with the data

  (turns data into word form where relevant)

  • INTENSE READING OF DATA TO BECOME IMMERSED IN CONTENT
• Describe the stage of thematic analysis- STAGE 2?


  CODING

  • generating codes that identify features of the data important to answering the research question
• Describe the stage of thematic analysis- STAGE 3?


  SEARCHING FOR THEMES

  • examining the codes and data to IDENTIFY PATTERNS of MEANING (to find potential themes)
  • these are EMERGENT THEMES
• Describe the stage of thematic analysis- STAGE 4?


  REVIEWING THEMES

  • Checking the potential themes against the data to see if they explain the data and answer the research theme
• Describe the stage of thematic analysis- STAGE 5?


  DEFINING & NAMING THEMES

  • detailed analysis of each theme and creating an information name for each one
• Describe the stage of thematic analysis- STAGE 6?


  WRITING UP

  • Combining together the information gained from the analysis