W2 - Thematic analysis

Question 1

What is meant by coding?

Answer 1

• Codes: identify a feature of the data (most basic segment of the raw data)
• Coding: turns ideas about the data into concise labels that can be understood without context
  -> 1st order: semantic
  -> 2nd order: abstract
• Features
  1. no definitive or accurate set of codes
  2. coding is subjective & based on own knowledge and skills
  3. often code and recode until understanding of data develops

Question 2

What makes a good theme?

Answer 2

• Consistent & Fit with data
• Have a centrally organising concept
• Answer/address RQ
• Capture most of the codes

Question 3

What is the criteria for naming theme?

Answer 3

• Needs to be concise, informative and catchy
• Thematic maps: help see the overall structure of the analysis

Question 4

What is included in theme writing?

Answer 4

• Consider the ‘story’ that fits - analytic narrative built around data to inform the reader what is going on in the data
• Select data extract - demonstrate evidence for pattern in data

Question 5

How to use transcription in qualitative research?

Answer 5

Orthographic -> transcribe speech to verbatim

Jefferson system (add more context in speech)
1. Prosody (e.g. intonation & stress)
2. Paralinguistic (e.g. tone of conversation)
3. Extralinguistic (e.g. gestures)

Question 6

What is thematic analysis & its advantages?

Answer 6

Definition: a method of data analysis focusing on organising and describing data in details, interpreting aspects of research topic

Advantages:

• flexibility
• easy and quick to learn
• accessible to novice researcher
• summarise key features of large data set
• highlight similarities & differences across data
• generate unanticipated insights
• accessible to educated general public (e.g. policy development)

Question 7

What are the six phases of thematic analysis?

Answer 7

1. Data familiarisation - read data
2. Generating codes - label ideas relevant to RQ
3. Searching for theme - group related codes
4. Reviewing themes - check if theme fits data & address RQ
5. Defining & naming themes - describe them & select data extracts
6. Producing report/paper

Question 8

What is meant by theoretical framework?

Answer 8

• Critical realist perspective (reality through socially-constructed perspective)
• Inductive approach
• Has both semantic (literal) & latent (underlying) meanings