thematic analysis week 10

• Thematic Analysis (TA)


  A range of qualitative research methods that are used for exploring and interpreting patterned meaning across datasets
• Types of TA


  • Reflexive TA (Braun & Clarke, 2006)
  • Coding reliability (Boyatzis, 1998)
  • Codebook (Template analysis, N. King, 2012)
• Phases in Reflexive TA (Braun & Clarke)


  1. Familiarisation with the data

  2. Coding

  3. Searching for themes

  4. Reviewing themes

  5. Defining and naming themes

  6. Writing up
• Code


  Characterises a singular idea that is captured within the dataset and relevance to the research question
• Types of codes


  • Semantic code (participant-driven, descriptive)
  • Latent code (researcher-driven, conceptual)
• Research exploring sex education


  • P1: In terms of sex education, we had very basic education in my high school
  • P2: Some parents may be opposing the idea of providing inclusive (including LGBTQ+ sexuality) sex education for their children
• Semantic code


  Describes exactly what the participant said
• Latent code


  Is shaped by the participants' narratives, as well as the background knowledge the researcher has regarding the subject (e.g., previous literature)
• Codes from childfree dataset


  • Offspring are not the only children in people's lives
  • Childfree by choice
  • Childfree can be for personal reasons
  • Childfree can be for environmental reasons
  • Childfree can be for social reasons
  • Compensatory kids
  • Relationships with other kids
  • The childfree more entitled than parents (hierarchies)
  • Parents (often) don't make deliberate choices/aren't thoughtful
  • Childfree as a thought-out choice (kids are non-thoughtful) action
  • Superiority/hierarchy (childfree on top)
  • Logic/rationality trumps emotions
  • Good/bad parents
  • Social engineering/forced sterilisation
  • Many people shouldn't have kids (those ones who often do)
• Theme


  Indicates a pattern that repeats across participants' narratives, and which captures something that is significant in the dataset and relates to the research question
• Subtheme


  Shares a key concept with the theme of which they are a part
• Example theme and subtheme


  • Theme: Healthy eating is constantly under threat
  • Subtheme: Tactics are required to eat healthily
• During the process of conducting the analysis, the research is also engaging in reflexivity (writing a reflexive journal)
• In the journal, the research may reflect upon: Personal reflexivity, Situating oneself in relation to data, Reflecting upon conducting interviews, Reflecting upon analysis the interviews (all six phases)
• Article: Between social and biomedical explanation: queer and gender diverse young people's explanations of psychological distress