Developments in Thematic Analysis Flashcards
Thematic analysis
TA developed as a way to systematise a general approach to interpreting qualitative data
Problematic use of thematic analysis
Evidence of poor practice:
- mashing of other approaches i.e. grounded theory techniques
- use of coding reliability measures
- treating TA as one approach
- confusing summaries of data domains or topics with fully realised themes
Procedure is prioritised over reflexive though and decision-making
Move towards reflexive TA
Thematic analysis pros
Centrality of researcher subjectivity and reflexivity
-Focus on deliberate and well-thought out methodological decisions that allowed for exploration rather than recipe following
What is reflexive Thematic analysis
Researcher active and embedded in the results
Reflecting on and understanding your position as a researcher in relation to topic of study
Methodologically, theoretically, epistemologically and ontologically transparent
Draws on informed decision calls.
BIG Q: Organic process
Inductive methods used to explore meaning and construction
Focus on philosophy and procedure, rather than tools and techniques
Researcher understands, enacts, explains and justifies methodological decisions
What other analyses to use beyond TA?
-Most appropriate method
-Finding the right method is a holistic process
-there are some analytical techniques that afford flexibility and other which do not.
Conversational analysis
Focus on how interactions are represented via talk and what action the talk represents in naturally occurring conversations
Grounded Theory
Identification of a model/theory generated from the data - no preconceived ideas on what might be found
Content analysis
count frequency of pre-defined behaviour
Interpretative phenomenological analysis
Attempting to understand ppts experiences from their perspective (descriptive themes, linguistic and conceptual comments)
Pros: adheres to own set of philosophical assumptions, embrace researcher subjectivity explain as double hermeneutic
Hermeneutic process
-first hermeneutic - ppts making sense of experiences
-Second hermeneutic - researcher making sense of ppts sense-making
Features of IPA and its differences with reflexive TA
features: focus of personal experience, assumes language reflects thoughts and feelings, interviews used, rely on small homogenous smaples, not focussed on broad social structures.
-Differences to TA: more details and metaphorical, more formalised, detailed and individualised
When to use TA instead of IPA
when research question explores something less personal, sample is larger or heterogenous, focus on themes across data, focus on individual social contexts
Discourse (+pros)
Talk as social action - people convey social position through their language and language itself is an interaction
Pros: associated with philosophical assumptions, heavily influenced by theory, language considered to have social function, multiple iterations
When to use TA instead of discourse
When to use TA instead: researcher new to qualitative methods, less theory dense approach, research question not focussed on discourses, interest in something other than power of language.
