Thematic Analysis, Braun & Clarke, Ch 4

Question 1

What is thematic analysis?

Answer 1

developing and offering insight into patterns of meaning (themes) across a data set.

Question 2

Is thematic analysis closer to a method than a methodology?

Answer 2

Yes, closer to a method (a theoretical flexible tool or technique, rather than being a methodology, a theoretically informed and delimited framework for conducting qualitative research)

Question 3

Which are the different approaches to thematic analysis?

Answer 3

1. Coding reliability
2. Reflexive
3. Codebook

Question 4

Which are the two main conceptualizations of themes evident across the TA family?

Answer 4

1. themes as topic summaries
2. themes as shared meaning

Question 5

Is it possible to be purely inductive?

Answer 5

No, as we always bring something to the data when we analyze them

Question 6

How is inductive thematic analysis?

Answer 6

Experimental in its orientation and contextualist in its theoretical framework, assuming a knowable world and giving voice to experiences and meanings of that world

Question 7

How is deductive thematic analysis?

Answer 7

Deductive thematic analysis is often critical in its orientation and constructionist in its theoretical framework, examining how the world is put together

Question 8

What are some common errors with thematic analysis?

Answer 8

Providing data extracts with little or no analysis that tells us how they are relevant to addressing the research question or simply paraphrasing or summarizing data. Also using data collection questions as themes; themes should be identified in what participants say rather than via the questions they have been asked.