Thematic and Content Analysis

Question 1

What are two techniques used to analyse qualitative data?

Answer 1

themantic analysis

content analysis

Question 2

What is thematic analysis?

Answer 2

aims to summarise data without losing its essential meaning.

Question 3

How do researchers carry out thematic analysis?

Answer 3

1. they begin with a hypothess hat they are looking to prove or disprove
2. data is collected through open ended interview Q’s and case studies
3. detailed transcripts are made of the interview process and the researcher famiarizes themselfves with the notes
4. researcher treisto identify common themes and use direct quotations to support their findings

Question 4

What is content analysis?

Answer 4

this technique takes thematic analysis a step further and tries to quantify the frequency of themes (coding units). Essentially meaning quantifying qualitative data.

Question 5

How do researhcers carry out content analysis?

Answer 5

1. you initially become increasingly familiar with the data by going through it several times. (i.e. film, transcripct, interview)
2. familiarity helps identofy relevant themes that can be used to dissect the data
3. the researcher works through the data again and uses a behavioural checklist to tally down the frequency that each coding unit appears
4. this provides categorical (nominal) data that can be displayed in graph’s and statistical analysed

Question 6

What are the strenths of thematic and content analysis?

Answer 6

ease of application - content anyalsys is an easy to perform, inexpensive research method which is non-invasive

compliemnts other methods - can be used to cross verify results from other research methods and can trace effects over time

ecologically valid - most data comes from real life / unstructured interviews. data more likely to be authentic and match real life. increases credibility of research

Question 7

What are the weaknesses of thematic and content analysis?

Answer 7

can be difficult to summarise - unlike quantitative that can be summarised visually with graphs and tables. This makes it harder for others to fully understand the findings

difficult to make cause and effect statements i.e. lack of causalty

avaialbility of data - flawed results