Introduction
There are several effective ways to conduct a qualitative study within the field of psychology. Thematic analysis is a widely used method that still lacks recognition and a standardized approach. In their article, Braun and Clarke (2006) define thematic analysis as a qualitative research approach and describe its effectiveness. They also list the six major phases that determine the success of this method and explain how to complete these steps.
Defining Thematic Analysis
Before outlining the steps involved in conducting a thematic analysis, it is essential to define this term. According to Braun and Clarke (2006), “thematic analysis is a method for identifying, analyzing and reporting patterns(themes) within data” (p. 79). It can be used to organize and describe the data set, and even to interpret various research aspects. Although the method is effective, there is limited understanding of its steps, and the article’s authors outline them to acknowledge and promote this approach.
Phases of Thematic Analysis
Data Reading
The first phase begins after the data have been collected by the researchers or others. Therefore, one must familiarize oneself with the information. As stated by Braun and Clarke (2006), “immersion usually involves ‘repeated reading’ of the data, and reading the data actively” (p. 87). Researchers identify common or important patterns, meanings, or inconsistencies and consider ways to use them in subsequent steps. In addition, Braun and Clarke indicate that transcription of verbal data also occurs during this phase and helps researchers identify common themes and become better familiarized with the collected data.
Theme Coding
After getting a better understanding of the data, researchers can begin the second step of thematic analysis. It focuses on generating initial codes, defined as the most basic elements and segments of the raw information that relate to the specific phenomenon under question and can be meaningfully asserted (Braun & Clarke, 2006). It is possible to access and interpret the data differently, depending on whether the themes are data- or theory-driven, and also approach this phase either manually or using software (Braun & Clarke, 2006). It is recommended to code for as many themes as possible, highlight all interesting patterns, retain some context in the code, and spot any contradictions or inconsistencies.
Theme Search
After all themes are coded, the searching for themes phase begins. During this step, researchers need to broaden their focus. To be more precise, phase three “involves sorting the different codes into potential themes, and collating all the relevant coded data extracts within the identified themes” (Braun & Clarke, 2006, p. 89).
Various codes are analyzed and then combined into different overarching topics. Broader themes and sub-themes might emerge, and to spot them more easily, the authors recommend using tables or schemes, such as thematic maps, to highlight all relationships between elements (Braun & Clarke, 2006). At the end of this step, researchers should understand the significance of each topic.
Reevaluating Themes
When the list of candidate themes is completed, phase four begins. It concentrates on the process of refinement, during which researchers reread their lists and decide what they can do with their elements. Thus, they need to evaluate whether topics have supporting data, can be collapsed into one another, or should be broken down into several sub-themes(Braun & Clarke, 2006).
The themes have to be distinct while also cohering together in a meaningful way. The first phase is to review the coded data extracts and create a candidate thematic map. The second level serves to ensure that the themes and the dataset work together and to code additional data that was missed during previous stages.
Final Theme Refinement
This phase is devoted to further refining the themes and analyzing the data within them. According to Braun and Clarke (2006), it is critical to identify each theme’s essence and determine the thematic aspects of each data set. Thus, “as well as identifying the ‘story’ that each theme tells, it is important to consider how it fits into the broader overall ‘story’” and relates to the research questions (Braun & Clarke, 2006, p. 92). One way to ensure that the phase is completed is to test whether one can define the themes’ scope and meaning in several sentences. If so, concise and appropriate names must be assigned to the final topics and sub-topics.
Reporting
Eventually, the final phase begins when researchers have a clear understanding of their worked-out themes and supporting data. Their focus during this stage is to produce a report that explains the complex information and data collected for the analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). This has to be done in a way that helps readers understand the research’s validity and importance. Sufficient evidence of the topics within the relevant data must be provided to demonstrate the prevalence of the themes (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Vivid extracts and examples must be provided, but the report must also go beyond data description and present an argument that relates to the initial research question.
Conclusion
To conclude, thematic analysis is an effective and practical research method. The article by Braun and Clarke (2006) contributes to the general understanding of this approach and outlines six steps that must be followed for the analysis to be meaningful and well reasoned. These phases include researchers’ familiarization with and transcribing of the data, coding interesting elements, collating these codes into possible topics, referring these themes to the coded extracts, generating definitions and names for each topic, and producing a report.
Reference
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3, 77–101.