W10 Flashcards
What is thematic analysis?
Thematic analysis is a qualitative analysis method focused on identifying patterns or themes in data to understand participants’ social world.
What is a theme in thematic analysis?
A theme is a recurrent idea, topic, or statement that generates a pattern in the data. Themes answer the research question and can be brought together into categories.
What is reflective thematic analysis?
Reflective thematic analysis incorporates reflexivity in qualitative research, where the researcher is active and embedded in the results, reflecting on their position in relation to the study topic. It is methodologically, theoretically, ontologically, and epistemologically transparent.
What are some other qualitative analyses?
Other qualitative analyses include conversational analysis, grounded theory, and content analysis.
What are common alternatives to thematic analysis?
Common alternatives include interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) and discourse analysis (DA).
What are the qualities and features of interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA)?
IPA adheres to philosophical assumptions, embraces researcher subjectivity, and typically uses interviews.
When should reflective thematic analysis be used instead of IPA?
Reflective thematic analysis is suitable when the research question does not explore personal experiences and meaning-making, when the data is not personal enough, when the sample is large or varied, when there is a focus on themes, and when the focus is on individual social contexts rather than broader social structures.
What are the qualities of discourse analysis (DA)?
DA is associated with philosophical assumptions, heavily influenced by theory, and considers language to have a social function.
When should reflective thematic analysis be used instead of discourse analysis (DA)?
Reflective thematic analysis is suitable when the researcher is new to qualitative methods, when a less theory-dense approach is desired, when the research is not focused on social constructionist approaches and discourses, and when there is interest in something other than the constructive power of language.
