Reviewing and writing themes

Question 1

What are the useful guiding questions to consider after initiating a theme for the codes? List 5 questions

Answer 1

1) Is this candidate theme evident across more than one or two data items? Or just a description of a specific interviewee?

2) Does each theme have a centrally organised concept? Or is there an overlap between the themes?

3) Do the themes answer the RQ?

4) Do the themes capture all (or most) of the codes?

5) Is there a clear fit between the themes and the data?

Question 2

What are the 3 main criteria for creating theme names?

Answer 2

• Concise
• Informative
• Catchy

Question 3

True or False?

Though each theme is distinct, they should form an overall story of the interviewee(s)

Answer 3

True

Question 4

How do you write a theme? List 5 tips for writing a good theme

Answer 4

1) Determine the exact ‘story’ told by each theme and overall.

2) Select data extracts that provide clear and compelling illustrations of the point demonstrated in the analysis

3) Provide an interpretation of the data – ‘data do not speak for themselves’

4) Write a theme definition i.e. an extended central organising concept

5) Create good theme names that signal the focus and scope of the theme. Aim to be concise, informative and catchy