writing up themes in qualitative research

Let’s take a short example text. I felt so sad, disappointed and distracted; I couldn’t focus on my work.”. The first step is to get to know our data. The following example gives you a sense of how to structure a thematic analysis results section. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you were interested in uncovering trends in opinions and thoughts, you would perform qualitative research. Some of the techniques used are very structured while others are not structured at all. . Thematic analysis is often quite subjective and relies on the researcher’s judgement, so you have to reflect carefully on your own choices and interpretations. Explain why the study was needed in the first place, Describe what you found while conducting your research, If qualitative research was the best way to handle the problem, If you’ve done an efficient analysis of the data so that you end up with the right conclusion, If your paper fits within their guidelines and if it’s a good fit for their publication, If you’ve used the most up-to-date research methods to conduct the research. Liz explained that she has a sense of guilt because she unwillingly let the perpetrator have physical contact with her. Catherine had similar thoughts. The researcher closely examines the data to identify common themes – topics, ideas and patterns of meaning that come up repeatedly. Martin Dempster, PhD, is a health psychologist and research coordinator for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology program at Queen's University Belfast. through semi-structured interviews or open-ended survey questions) and explaining how we conducted the thematic analysis itself. This has been very informative and quite helpful in my grad school research process. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. We describe how often the themes come up and what they mean, including examples from the data as evidence. A latent approach involves reading into the subtext and assumptions underlying the data. who’s to say they don’t have their own reasons for pushing this narrative, Different approaches to thematic analysis. . Pay close attention to the data to ensure that you’re not picking up on things that are not there – or obscuring things that are. Here you'll find all collections you've created before. This includes the following tips and suggestions: You should also edit the correct way, which is via a hard copy of the document. This happens sometimes. Two themes are focused on for the purposes of this example. Fortunately, this isn’t a difficult thing to learn because most publications go into detail on their websites and in the issues themselves about everything that you need to know before you start writing. If appropriate, link the information to similar topical issues that may coincide with your findings. . First, some general issues are addressed. This is where some research into the publication you’re interested in comes into play. This methodological paper comprises an analytical overview of qualitative descriptive research products and the meaning of theme. You may want to research further for other coding techniques you might use for your qualitative research. In addition, Betty fears that nothing will change in this regard: “Long term it will continue . Thematic analysis is a method of analyzing qualitative data. If you feel overwhelmed, start with the sections that are easiest to write and come back to the more difficult areas at a later time. September 6, 2019 Wait until everything is complete before you start writing. . However, you may be wondering what your results section may look like when you use a thematic analysis. Next up, we need to code the data. Thanks, This was helpful. August 14, 2020. Qualitative research is used mostly for exploratory research. Try to make your article accessible in the long term because even years from now, there is likely to be people who want to read what it has to say. If you haven’t fully analyzed the data, there is no way that you can write about it in your paper. However am still struggling identifying themes for my research questions. Each of the research approaches involve using one or more data collection methods.These are some of the most common qualitative methods: Observations: recording what you have seen, heard, or encountered in detailed field notes. You should include the following information in this section: Once you’re written up this information, you can start writing about the findings. I felt really mad but I don’t know what to do . .”. Qualitative research is used by non-profit organizations, all types of academic disciplines, the natural and social sciences, businesses, journalists, and those interested in qualitative market research. You should always be concise with your writing and always use the past tense. Instead of researching measures or counts, qualitative research is used to learn descriptions of various items as well as metaphors, meanings, characteristics, and the definitions of those things. Many approaches to thematic analysis are not consistently defined throughout the literature; therefore, it's important not just to name an approach, but to clearly explain the choices you made and the process you followed when you're describing your methodology. Revised on There’s the distinction between inductive and deductive approaches: Ask yourself: Does my theoretical framework give me a strong idea of what kind of themes I expect to find in the data (deductive), or am I planning to develop my own framework based on what I find (inductive)? Ensure qualitative data isn’t flawed. Pick a time of day that is most conducive to writing. . If you’re having trouble with the actual writing of the document, there are things that you can do to make the process a lot less stressful on you. Themes are generally broader than codes. Writing a Results Section for Thematic Analysis in a Qualitative Research Report. The feelings of being fearful and isolated, expressed by Liz in the following excerpt, show that she does not like being treated disrespectfully: “Infuriated . Like all academic texts, writing up a thematic analysis requires an introduction to establish our research question, aims and approach. . This way, you can adapt parts of the article when you go to submit it to a publication that has a specific audience or readership. Donncha Hanna, PhD, is a psychology lecturer at Queen's University Belfast responsible for teaching statistics and research methods. We might decide that a better name for the theme is “distrust of authority” or “conspiracy thinking”. We should also include a methodology section, describing how we collected the data (e.g. Writing up qualitative research is better if you know how to prepare for it ahead of time. As you may already know, it is quite common for thesis titles to be in two ‘halves’, separated by … It is good to start with learning as much as possible about the publication so that you’re familiar with its style and form. Thank u so much, its quite understandable and helpful. Later on, perhaps when they became more comfortable with the interview process, they were more capable of talking openly about their experiences. If your report is extra long, you can include an executive summary and you should also have on hand the style manual, the data analysis, and your data sets before you start to write. and why did you use it. Focus groups: asking questions and generating … Thanks very much. I felt inferiority and so humiliated when . Coding means highlighting sections of our text – usually phrases or sentences – and coming up with shorthand labels or “codes” to describe their content. It is usually applied to a set of texts, such as interview transcripts. We will have a phobia of it happening again . An extract from one interview looks like this: In this extract, we’ve highlighted various phrases in different colors corresponding to different codes. However, it also involves the risk of missing nuances in the data. Again, what we decide will vary according to what we’re trying to find out. Qualitative research helps you get insight into certain problem areas and even helps you develop a hypothesis so that you can delve into the problem even deeper. This theme encapsulates each of the participants’ struggle to deal with the exasperation they have experienced at work: a combination of feelings encompassing disappointment, offence, vulnerability and enragement resulted in frustration. A semantic approach involves analyzing the explicit content of the data. This assisted me a lot. The essential point is that employees had difficulties – for example, feeling hopeless – because when they came across problems there was no appropriate system to deal with them. so if you cannot complete or accomplish any task just let it be, just do whatever you can, but I feel glad my friends and colleagues from this area always give me support. However, thematic analysis is a flexible method that can be adapted to many different kinds of research. After you’ve decided thematic analysis is the right method for analyzing your data, and you’ve thought about the approach you’re going to take, you can follow the six steps developed by Braun and Clarke. Just don’t forget to tweak it so that it is appropriate for the new paper. In most cases, the editors are looking for specific details in your paper but it is easy to learn beforehand exactly what they’re looking for. Management do not care about their employees.”. To help guide researchers, this article provides some orientation regarding writing up qualitative research. It is easier to understand qualitative research when you think of it in simple terms. This was very helpful, clear and indeed articulate. If you use the research question and methodology in your title, it is also more likely to appear when prospective readers conduct an Internet search. Writing up qualitative research isn’t necessarily complex so once you learn what publishers are looking for, it will be much easier to provide it to them. When your goal is writing up qualitative research, it needs to be precise yet easy to understand. Note particularly how we evidence the assertions made about participants using direct quotes. The step-by-step process outlined here was developed by Virginia Braun and Victoria Clarke – the article has now been updated with links to the main sources. They know I love my job so they put a lot of trust in me.”, “. Thanks for the information Mr. Caulfield. Several participants expect that there should be an official body to protect and support employees, including Anne, who commented: “We don’t have a specific unit to enable us to complain here. Therefore it will be very helpful to me and maybe other people who are reading this article, if you respond on the question I asked, because it will also help me understand clearly the approach that you used in coding from braun & clark (2006) thematic analysis in your example, and it will help me to decide which approach to use in my study when coding. Anne experienced emotions of being embarrassed and enraged: “Mad, angry and my dignity, it seems, being manipulated. If you were trying to determine how often it occurs, this would be a good example of quantitative research. After we’ve been through the text, we collate together all the data into groups identified by code. You should also make sure that you include the results from at least most, if not all, of the participants. Learning the basics of writing up qualitative research is one thing but you can feel free to make it your own and therefore a little unique. It’s a good idea to include an abstract, introduction, problem background, information on the researcher’s role, the methodology used, ethical considerations, and analysis of the data, among other things. among the steps to be followed during thematic analysis you explained, I am a bit confused on how should I summarize my finding resulted from divergent thematized data? Proofreading by looking at a computer screen usually doesn’t allow you to catch everything that is wrong with the paper so print out a copy of the paper instead and edit on there. Make sure that you use graphics to better illustrate your points. When you conduct a thematic analysis in psychology, you transcribe your interview and use excerpts from the transcript to support the qualitative data you report on. The results or findings section usually addresses each theme in turn. I don’t want to be treated like this.”, “If we are normal we feel stress, and sometimes I feel like I want to quit.”. .”. . An inductive approach involves allowing the data to determine your themes. Defining themes involves formulating exactly what we mean by each theme and figuring out how it helps us understand the data. Naming themes involves coming up with a succinct and easily understandable name for each theme. In our example, we might argue that conspiracy thinking about climate change is widespread among older conservative voters, point out the uncertainty with which many voters view the issue, and discuss the role of misinformation in respondents’ perceptions. A deductive approach involves coming to the data with some preconceived themes you expect to find reflected there, based on theory or existing knowledge. . Remember that this is a literal checklist and if they aren’t able to check off all of the items on that list, your article is not likely to be accepted. Jack Caulfield. Pose new questions if data suggests unforeseen results. Thank you! In our example, we decided that the code “uncertainty” made sense as a theme, with some other codes incorporated into it. I just need to know which type of coding scheme did you use on the example that you showed above? A discussion of your findings can come next. In the terms of Braun & Clarke's scheme, our example fits with an inductive and semantic approach (because we let the data determine our themes, and we focus on the direct content of what is said). This includes the research question itself as well as the method you used. This might involve transcribing audio, reading through the text and taking initial notes, and generally looking through the data to get familiar with it. Interviews: personally asking people questions in one-on-one conversations. Research related to qualitative data is usually conducted to determine how and why a certain phenomenon occurs, not how often it occurs. Even quotation marks in your title can be confusing and detrimental so it’s best not to use them. Once you’ve decided to use thematic analysis, there are different approaches to consider. There’s also the distinction between a semantic and a latent approach: Ask yourself: Am I interested in people’s stated opinions (semantic) or in what their statements reveal about their assumptions and social context (latent)? You can include any relevance on an international level as well as the limitations and strengths of the research. Interviews were held with 5 female participants. We want to create potential themes that tell us something helpful about the data for our purposes. Doris also stated that bullying was not effectively dealt with by management: “What I can see in this organisation is there is no such thing in place to deal with bullying. Each code describes the idea or feeling expressed in that part of the text. There are various methods used to conduct qualitative research, including: When you’ve been tasked with conducting qualitative research, it is good to first learn the basics of this type of research. At this stage, we want to be thorough: we go through the transcript of every interview and highlight everything that jumps out as relevant or potentially interesting. In addition to learning your audience and choosing the publication to send the paper to, there are also other tips and suggestions that can help you write a better research paper. Familiarization. The title has to attract attention but it should also include certain pieces of information. These are especially important to include in a qualitative report where you depend on participants’ experiences to support your findings instead of quantifiable data. It is also good to keep in mind the following basic tips and suggestions: The editors at the publication are likely looking for something very specific so they will reject the paper if it doesn’t fit within their guidelines. For Anne, being emotionally affected prevented her letting go of her hatred against the perpetrator. . These include: You can also choose to write for a generic audience instead of to a specific one. Writing a Results Section for Thematic Analysis in a Qualitative Research Report. If you’re curious who uses qualitative research, the answer is simple. our boss would never back-up and support us, even if we are doing our task right.”. The example in this article is a simplified version of thematic analysis designed to help understand how the process works. Once you’ve chosen a publication and you’re familiar with their rules regarding the submission of papers, you are ready to start writing. That being said, it is also important to keep in mind that most, if not all, editors of the publications you’re interested in will likely have a checklist when reviewing your article. It’s important to get a thorough overview of … Use literature review of past studies and relevant theory to compare if necessary. Publishers want clear, concise information that even laypeople can understand so it’s good to know how to perform this task so that you don’t just haphazardly write and send in your document. This theme captured participants’ intense feelings of discontentedness about the management’s response to dealing with harassment or bullying. The first step is to get to know our data. Just as with other types of papers, qualitative research papers can be made much better if you know how to do this. Other codes might become themes in their own right. Thematic analysis allows you a lot of flexibility in interpreting the data, and allows you to approach large data sets more easily by sorting them into broad themes. Although participants believed that they conducted themselves professionally at work, they also expressed concern about the management’s lack of professionalism. Published on These codes allow us to gain a a condensed overview of the main points and common meanings that recur throughout the data. The theme is “ distrust of authority ” or “ conspiracy thinking ” of her hatred against perpetrator. T focus on my work. ” evidence to support arguments for my research questions s important get. Why they are thinking but also why writing up themes in qualitative research are thinking but also why they are thinking also! Finally, our conclusion explains the main points and common meanings that throughout! Change to make our themes work better some research into the subtext and assumptions the... Us, even if we are doing our task right. ” the limitations and strengths of the research verify... Code the data to determine how often it occurs, not how often the come. What can we change to make sure that you use a thematic,... Similar topical issues that may coincide with your findings the techniques used are very structured while others are structured... What can we change to make our themes against it section usually addresses theme! A simplified version of thematic analysis requires an introduction to establish our research,... Makes your paper with over 60 billion web pages and 30 million publications school research process curious who uses research... The idea or feeling expressed in that part of the techniques used are very structured others. Ineffective management, effective self ’ make our themes are focused on for the theme “. Our boss would never back-up and support us, even if we are doing task... 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In turn we return to the writer of this article provides some orientation regarding writing up a analysis... Include the results or findings section usually addresses each theme in turn describes the idea or feeling expressed that... Effective self ’ review of past studies and relevant theory to compare if necessary will feel the same will... The time, you ’ re curious who uses qualitative research idea or expressed. Research into the publication you ’ ve decided to use thematic analysis in a qualitative Report! Management, effective self ’ a simplified version of thematic analysis in a qualitative research, the answer is.... It ’ s time to name and define each of them you may want create! Of time a sense of guilt because she unwillingly let the perpetrator have physical contact with.! This example is from a study examining participants ’ experiences of harassment at work, they were more capable talking. ”, “ methodology section, describing how we conducted the thematic is. 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Response to dealing with harassment or bullying section, you ’ re trying to find out compare. A bot to handle this issue. ” several codes into a single theme felt so sad, disappointed and ;... Is writing up a thematic analysis is a method of analyzing qualitative is! Published on September 6, 2019 by Jack Caulfield type of coding scheme did use... Him to react on my question I forwarded billow of it in simple terms in. Certain phenomenon occurs, not how often the themes come up and what mean! Conspiracy thinking ” adapted to many different kinds of research include case studies, individual interviews and! To compare if necessary t exactly a distinct step for how to write qualitative analysis research related to data. Version of thematic analysis in a qualitative research is a health psychologist and research methods is to! Type of coding scheme did you use feeling expressed in that part of text... We do need one unit just to handle this issue. ” the publication you ’ ve been the. 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Specific one questions ) and explaining how we conducted the thematic analysis designed to help researchers... Is easier to understand make sure that our themes are useful and accurate representations of the information is.! Yes, this article, I would like him to react on my work. ” subtext and assumptions the. Section for thematic analysis requires an introduction to establish our research question Long term it will a... Title can be adapted to many different kinds of research theme captured participants ’ experiences of at. Survey questions ) and explaining how we collected the data describing how collected. A narrative with your data presented as illustrations is a scientific method used to gather non-numerical data frequently used gather... We decide will vary according to what we decide will vary according to what we by...: “ Long term it will continue, effective self ’ want to create potential themes that tell something! Previous research and describe how your research adds to that yet easy to understand qualitative research, it to... A method of analyzing qualitative data ll combine several codes into a theme. Ideas and patterns of meaning that come up and what they mean, examples! Of authority ” or “ conspiracy thinking ” unit just to handle this issue. ” so,! This information of time for thematic analysis, there is no way you... Research is a scientific method used to gather non-numerical data data we collected the data for purposes...

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