Qualitative research data is information that cannot be easily measured or counted. The data is collected from audio, images, and text. Thematic analysis is one of the significant and most popular qualitative analysis techniques. You make code that is assigned a piece of text in thematic analysis. Its aim is to summarize and identify the significant concept within the data set, for example, an interview transcript. Thematic analysis is very useful because it allows you to categorize a large amount of data. It can analyze subjective information, such as a person’s views, opinions, and experiences. If you want to identify the patterns in qualitative research data or involve research participants in the analysis process, then thematic analysis is the best technique.
Steps of Doing Thematic Analysis of Qualitative Research Data
In thematic analysis, there are many ways to interpret the meaning of the data set. It is a flexible approach that permits the researcher to identify new concepts and insights derived from data. Companies use thematic analysis for their customer’s feedback. There are several steps to the thematic analysis of qualitative research data available online. Students must know the best steps for the thematic analysis of qualitative research. Some of the efficient strategies are explained below;
1. Get to know the information
The first step for thematic analysis is going through the information you have. Identify and get aware of the data. If it is in the form of audio, transcribe the audio. Before you start to analyze individual items, get familiar with all the data you collected. Go through the text, make initial notes, and actively observe the meaning.
2. Start initial coding
The next step in the thematic analysis of qualitative research analysis is to generate initial codes. It means highlighting the text section you transcribed earlier in 1st strep. It represents the meaning and patterns you saw in the data and generates a codebook for keeping track of the code. Review the data again and identify the following excerpts. The codes allow you to get an overview of the common meanings and main points that return during the data
3. Generate codes into themes
The next step in the thematic analysis of the qualitative research data is to turn codes into potential themes. In this step, verify your created codes, look over the patterns, and start generating themes. It is useful to see the patterns and trends in your qualitative research data. You can also become familiar with how many codes can be combined in the thematic analysis. You can combine numerous themes into a single frame, as themes are generally larger than codes.
4. Revise the generated themes
The next step of thematic analysis of the qualitative research data is to review and revise the generated themes. All the themes must be distinct from each other and have enough data to support them. Make sure themes represent accurate data, clarify mistakes, and suggest what you can change or modify to make themes better and more productive. You can combine themes, split them, discard them, or create new themes so that your work depicts accuracy.
5. Write your analysis or narrative
The next step of the thematic analysis of qualitative research data is to write your narrative to tell the story of your data. The thematic analysis involves an introduction to establish the aims and approaches of your qualitative research analysis. You have fully prepared the themes, and now you can communicate your analysis to the reader. Your data must be coherent, and you can use vibrant quotes that help you to back up your point. Your narrative must be your interpretive analysis. If you have difficulty writing your analysis or narrative, you can contact research proposal help. They have experts who not only help you with the proposal but also assist you in finishing the complete dissertation.
6. Writing up with a well-organized structure
A well-organized structure is very important in the thematic analysis of qualitative research data. It would be best if you had a catchy introduction with clear objectives, aims, goals, and thesis statement. Start writing the methodology section and describe how you collected the required data with proper facts and figures. Clarify how you accompanied the entire thematic analysis. Explain each result you get from the analysis and conclude your writing with some recommendations.
Conclusion
Thematic analysis is no doubt a prevailing analytical method of qualitative research data. It is a versatile analysis method that can help to develop insights into complex phenomena. The steps or tips mentioned above are the best-known strategies for the thematic analysis of qualitative research data.
