Lecture 8 - Coding qualitative data

Conducting a Thematic Analysis

Overview

Course: PSYC224 - Week 18Instructor: Dr. Samuel Finnerty

Main Topics Covered:

• Thematic Analysis as a Research Method: An exploration of the theoretical underpinnings, methodologies, and specific steps involved in conducting thematic analysis effectively.

• Understanding Friendship: An in-depth examination of existing themes within the research literature regarding friendship, focusing on development, quality, and contextual factors influencing interpersonal relationships.

• QSR Nvivo Software: Training in the use of QSR Nvivo for coding qualitative data, focusing on effective retrieval and analysis of qualitative information relevant to research questions.

Learning Objectives:

• Software Proficiency: Develop the ability to use QSR Nvivo software confidently to code qualitative data accurately.

• Thematic Analysis Understanding: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the steps and critical concepts that underpin thematic analysis.

• Participants’ Experiences: Cultivate a deeper understanding of the nuances in participants' experiences and their subjective interpretations of friendship.

Reviewing Interviews

Key Aspects:

Interview Technique:

• Employ effective interviewing techniques to elicit rich, detailed narratives and gain insights.

• Identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement in the interview technique.

• Consider how adjustments in method or additional prompts could enable more effective data collection.

Content Analysis:

• Systematically analyze interview data to uncover what participants reveal about friendship, focusing on surprise elements or unexpected patterns.

• strengths of the interview

• how they can be improved

• what would you do differently

• what does the interview tell you about friendship

• Is there something you haven’t considered before

Research Question:

• Central Question: How do young adults experience and understand friendship? This question aims to illuminate the perceptions and significances of friendship among the cohort studied.

Aim:

• Utilize coding of interview data to identify prevalent patterns, themes, and variations that directly relate to the research question on friendship.

The Analytic Method: Thematic Analysis

Overview

The thematic analysis involves systematically identifying, analyzing, and reporting patterns within qualitative data, providing a framework for interpreting the meanings behind participants' experiences and perspectives on friendship.

Source: Braun and Clarke (2006)

Purpose: To facilitate the identification and reporting of significant patterns (themes) found within qualitative data, enhancing comprehension of the data's meaning in the context of the research question.

Definition of Theme:

• Theme: A theme is defined as a patterned response within the dataset that captures significant data relevant to the research question, providing insight into the underlying narratives.

Theme Categorization

• Types of Themes:

  • Semantic Themes: These are explicit and clearly expressed within the data.

  • Latent Themes: These themes are more implicit, requiring interpretative analysis to uncover their significance.

• Thematic Categorization Methods:

  • Inductive (data-driven): Themes emerge directly from the data without preconceived notions.

  • Deductive (theory-driven): Themes are derived from existing theories and frameworks.

Epistemology:

• Thematic analysis does not adhere to one fixed philosophical framework; it can adopt either a realist stance that assumes a singular reality or a social constructionist approach that recognizes multiple subjective realities.

Step-by-Step Guide to Thematic Analysis

Step 1: Familiarity with the Data

• Importance: Transcribing interviews is crucial to ensure accuracy in data representation.

• Tip: Keep a project notebook to jot down initial thoughts and ideas for coding and themes as the analysis unfolds.

Step 2: Generating Initial Codes

• Identify features of the data that are relevant to the research questions.

• Aim for a comprehensive coding strategy that preserves context while capturing diverse aspects of the data.

Step 3: Searching for Themes

• Organize codes into coherent themes and analyze relationships between the identified codes.

• Use visual aids such as tables or mind maps for better understanding and organization of themes.

Step 4: Refining Themes

• Ensure each theme has internal coherence and identifiable differences from other themes.

  • Level 1: Check consistency of data extracts within each theme.

  • Level 2: Validate the themes against the entire dataset to ensure they accurately represent the findings.

Step 5: Defining and Naming Themes

• Establish a narrative structure for each theme, determining the interrelations among themes.

• The naming of themes should reflect creativity and a thoughtful interpretation of the data.

Themes in Extant Research on Friendship

Developmental Psychology

• Parker and Asher (1993): Developed the Friendship Quality Questionnaire (FQQ), which comprises 40 items that are categorized across six key sub-scales assessing various dimensions of friendship quality.

Computer Mediated Communication (CMC)

• Parks & Floyd (1996): Identified levels of development in friendship through 43 items across seven sub-scales: Interdependence, Breadth, Depth, Understanding, Commitment, Network Convergence, and Code Change.

Gender Studies

• Glover, Galliher & Crowell (2015): Analyzed the nature of young women's passionate friendships, identifying five key themes that characterize these relationships:

  • Friendship Characteristics

  • Relationship Importance

  • Intimacy

  • Problem Areas

  • Friendship Status(Note: The themes generated from interview questions do not fit the format for inductive analysis.)

• not a good study to look at the nuances of friendship dynamics, as it fails to capture the complexities and varying degrees of intimacy that exist within different relationships.

Disability Studies

• Salmon (2013): Conducted a study on friendships among disabled teens, focusing on stigma and revealing four themes:

  • Contesting Normative Expectations of Friendship

  • Coming Out as Disabled

  • Connecting through Stigma Experiences

  • Choosing Self-Exclusion(Note: This study serves as a prime example of inductive thematic analysis.)

Tasks for Week 18

• Review all transcripts to update interview schedules and refine data collection methods as necessary.

• Engage in careful reading and re-reading of interviews; prepare the data set for an in-depth coding process.

• Initiate the coding process with an emphasis on defining codes carefully and being mindful of overlaps among them.

Additional Tasks for Weeks 18 and 19

• Relate and analyze how the various codes might connect and interact with one another, seeking comprehensive insights into their interrelationships.

• Look for overarching patterns that elucidate the psychological importance of friendships, contributing to the broader understanding of this phenomenon.

• Create thematic names that reflect deeper psychological insights, ensuring each theme adequately addresses the overarching research question.