qualitative data 2 Flashcards
what is a thematic analysis
method for identifying, analysing and reporting patterns (themes) within data
not a passive process - themes do not just emerge
the researcher data (reflexive)
we approach the data with a research question in mind, but not a hypothesis
what does thematic analysis help to do
helps to summarise qualitative data to explain, understand or interpret people’s thoughts and experiences
how to carry out thematic analysis
1) familiarise with data - make descriptive notes
2) generate initial codes - assign label or category to each statement to capture what is meaningful about it
3) search for themes - group together similar codes
4) review themes
5) defining and naming themes
6) produce final report (interpret and explain themes)
data can be primary or secondary - what is the difference?
primary: data you collect yourself
secondary: data you have not collected yourself
what is the difference between semantic and latent codes
semantic: capture surface meaning of data
latent: capture assumptions underpinning surface meanings, or use pre-existing theories and concepts to analyse the data
what is the grounded theory
focus on developing theory - long processes that can take months and months
start with collection of data, then develop the theory (theory is grounded in the data)
iterative - may talk to few PPs, then start interviewing more once some theory has started to be developed
what is the IPA (interpretative phenomenological analysis)
focuses on individual’s personal experiences of the area of interest
smith and Osborn describe IPA as interested in PPs are making sense of their personal and social world
may only collect data from one or two people, but in great depth
can describe findings in terms of current psychological theories, so close connection to mainstream psychology
what is narrative analysis
people produce accounts of themselves in the form of narratives - used to develop an identity
context in which the story is told
what is discourse analysis
looks at how texts are used to make meanings and the shared meaning we have - social constructivism
greater focus on understanding how language is used
