Thematic Analysis (DP IB Psychology): Revision Note

Thematic analysis

• A qualitative method for analysing data such as books, diaries, interview transcripts, conversations, text messages, or film scripts

  • Data is organised into categories (e.g., early life, school experience, relationships) and further divided into sub-themes (e.g., conflict with sibling, bullying, abusive partner)

• Thematic analysis can be used to analyse primary (e.g., interviews, conversations) or secondary data (e.g., published texts, films)

• The aim is to summarise and interpret the main ideas within the material in order to identify patterns and conclusions

• It is an inductive method: themes emerge from the data rather than being imposed beforehand

• Examples of approaches used in thematic analysis might include:

  • Analysing a transcript of a couple’s argument, noting frequent references to “blame” or “upset”

  • Reviewing text messages to identify patterns of coercive control in a relationship

  • Examining a film script to explore how female characters are described by appearance while male characters are described by personality traits

Evaluation of thematic analysis

Strengths

• Qualitative data is rich in meaning and detail, which brings with it external validity

  • Sorting the data into themes means that trends and patterns emerge, which can provide insight into the topic

  • These patterns can be used for further investigation into the topic

• Thematic analysis enables researchers to investigate topics which might otherwise be off-limits due to ethical concerns

  • If secondary data is used which is in the public domain, then it should not compromise anyone's privacy

  • There is no need to gain informed consent to access or report on secondary data

Limitations

• The interpretation of themes can be subjective

  • The researcher's preexisting biases may influence the analysis, which would compromise the validity of the findings

  • Researchers may not all practise reflexivity fully when conducting a thematic analysis

• The processes used in thematic analysis are time-consuming and repetitive

  • This means that researchers may lose focus and overlook important details

  • Consequently, it is less commonly used than quicker methods, despite its ability to provide deep insights into subjective experiences