Thematic Analysis

Question 1

What data does thematic analysis analyse?

Answer 1

Qualitative

Question 2

Why does thematic analysis perform through the process of coding in 6 phases?

Answer 2

To create established,
meaningful patterns (reading qualitative data to create themes) by reading through material e.g. newspaper/watching tv for behaviours and pick out themes of what you read/see

Question 3

What are the 6 phases of thematic analysis?

Answer 3

Familiarisation with data (read stuff)

Generating initial codes (see what jumps out as interesting)

Searching for themes among codes (are any of those things related/similar)

Reviewing themes (is there enough evidence to say it’s a pattern?)

Defining and naming themes

Producing the final report

Question 4

What is a strength of thematic analysis reducing large amounts of data?

Answer 4

Turns into manageable
summaries so results can be managed but without loosing validity

Question 5

What is a weakness of thematic analysis in regards to bias?

Answer 5

May be interpretation bias as
there is subjectivity in analysis of results, making the results less valid

Question 6

How can thematic analysis be tested for inter-rater reliability?

Answer 6

Multiple researchers can code (look for themes) at the
same time

Question 7

Why is thematic analysis not scientific?

Answer 7

Results cannot be analysed to see if they were due to chance

Question 8

How can the validity of findings be improved by thematic analysis?

Answer 8

Encourages researchers to derive themes rather than
impose pre-selected ones

Question 9

Why is thematic analysis time consuming?

Answer 9

Requires skills from the researcher to identify
representative themes so they have to be trained to code