Thematic Analysis

Synopsis

**Winner of the 2022 British Psychological Society Book Award - Textbook Category**

Developed and adapted by the authors of this book, thematic analysis (TA) is one of the most popular qualitative data analytic techniques in psychology and the social and health sciences. Building on the success of Braun & Clarke′s 2006 paper first outlining their approach - which has over 100,000 citations on Google Scholar - this book is the definitive guide to TA, covering:

- Contextualisation of TA
- Developing themes
- Writing TA reports
- Reflexive TA

It addresses the common questions surrounding TA as well as developments in the field, offering a highly accessible and practical discussion of doing TA situated within a clear understanding of the wider terrain of qualitative research.

Virginia Braun is a Professor in the School of Psychology at The University of Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand.

Victoria Clarke is an Associate Professor in Qualitative and Critical Psychology in the Department of Social Sciences at the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol.

Summary

Chapter 1: Understanding Thematic Analysis

This chapter introduces the concept of thematic analysis as a qualitative research method suitable for identifying and analyzing patterns and themes within data. It emphasizes the naturalistic and inductive approach of thematic analysis, highlighting its strengths and limitations.

Real Example:

A researcher conducting a study on student experiences in a university might use thematic analysis to identify common themes related to satisfaction, engagement, and support.

Chapter 2: Familiarizing Yourself with the Data

This chapter outlines the importance of immersion in the data to gain a comprehensive understanding of its content. It discusses strategies for transcribing and organizing data, such as memoing and creating a coding framework.

Real Example:

The researcher transcribes student interviews and uses memos to record their initial observations and emerging ideas. They also develop a provisional coding framework to categorize and group the data.

Chapter 3: Generating Initial Themes

This chapter provides guidelines for identifying and developing initial themes from the data. It introduces the concept of inductive coding and describes various methods for generating themes, including line-by-line coding and open coding.

Real Example:

The researcher codes student interviews line-by-line, identifying recurrent ideas related to workload, teaching quality, and campus life. These become the initial themes.

Chapter 4: Reviewing and Refining Themes

This chapter focuses on the iterative process of refining and developing themes. It discusses strategies for searching for alternative explanations, challenging themes, and developing a coherent and valid thematic structure.

Real Example:

The researcher examines the initial themes, identifies overlaps, and searches for alternative interpretations. They refine the themes and combine or divide them based on their conceptual coherence.

Chapter 5: Defining and Naming Themes

This chapter guides researchers in defining and naming themes concisely and accurately. It emphasizes the importance of providing clear and representative definitions that capture the essence of the data.

Real Example:

The researcher defines the theme "Workload" as "the perceived amount and intensity of academic tasks students are required to complete." They ensure that this definition aligns with the data and reflects the students' experiences.

Chapter 6: Writing the Thematic Analysis Report

This chapter provides practical advice on writing a comprehensive and informative thematic analysis report. It covers the structure and content of the report, including an introduction, methods section, results, and discussion.

Real Example:

The researcher writes a report that outlines the research question, data collection and analysis methods, the themes identified, and their implications for understanding student experiences.