Thematic analysis is a widely used method of analyzing qualitative data in qualitative research. It involves identifying, analyzing, and interpreting patterns of meaning or "themes" within qualitative data. Thematic analysis is often used to examine themes or patterns of meaning within data collected from interviews, focus groups, surveys, solicited diaries, visual methods, observation and field research, action research, memory work, vignettes, story completion, and secondary sources.
Thematic analysis is a flexible approach to qualitative analysis that enables researchers to generate new insights and concepts derived from data. It is a useful and accessible tool for qualitative researchers, but it can be subjective and relies on the researchers judgement. Thematic analysis can be used for both exploratory research and more deductive studies.
The process of thematic analysis can be generalized into six steps: initial analysis, coding data, identifying themes, reviewing themes, defining and naming themes, and producing the report. Thematic analysis is just one approach of many ways to analyze qualitative research.
