Thematic analysis refers to the process of identifying data, analyzing it and at the same time reporting the patterns that are found within it. It looks into detail several research aspects in a topic.
Thematic analysis is a useful and a flexible research tool that is potentially used to get a detailed and rich but a very complex data. This method is very explicit and is majorly used in analyzing data because of its flexibility.
Thematic analysis generally is carried out after some research has been conducted in form of interviews and the data recorded to allow for the analysis to take place. This is a project should be qualitative. The project is basically to provide experience that was encountered especially during when carrying out the analysis. It also helps one to get the concept of the issues that were involved during the research. It thus helps to deepen the understanding on the qualitative analysis (Braun & Clarke 2006).
Qualitative analysis is constituted with different types. Firstly, it elaborates what the researcher is to do. It also shows how the data will be analyzed and produced and finally explains what the researcher is to do in order carrying out the analysis.
The thematic analysis that is done well has the researchers sharing ontological position in broad in a manner that enables people to flashback there experiences. This can only be done well through the use of language for it is through language that the meanings will come forth and be organized into themes. These meanings are always very specific but have always been shared by different groups and individuals. All this is done by the researcher who designs the project thematic analysis is basically done for two reasons. Firstly, it is done due to ethical reasons. In this perspective we have to make sure that the research have conformed to then interviews ethical guidelines. These include confidentiality, anonymity as well as the informed consent of those taking part in the interview. Analysis also takes place due to the workloads and the constraints of time. In this sense time is always minimal and the whole task is time consuming. This way, we come to realize that it easy for someone to make mistakes especially at the planning stage.
Questions used in research should be geared to get a persons experience on a certain topic and thus help in coming out with something that will help in quantitative research.
In analyzing this data I took a perspective that I think would lead me to the final thing i.e. understanding the data fully and in detail. The first stage in analyzing it was to familiarize myself with this data, I read it and these could be my findings. This data was an oral interview. From the way the interviewer interacts with the interviewee (Assan) simply implicates that it was these people formally met and had a lengthy talk. First from the way the host (interviewer) welcomes the interviewee, their reference to the phone call they had. This shows nothing less than people who have discussed. Another indicator is where the interviewer tells the interviewee to sign the consent form. This data thus was transcribed and presented for conceptualization of the topic of study. From it we can therefore get different themes that are coming forth.
The second step refers to generation of codes. In coding the features availing themselves in the data systematically across the entire data set. At this step I found out that there are different kinds of information in this interview that brings the intended purpose of the research questions. The historical perspective that is given inform of flashback provides vital information that elaborates on the relationships that the interviewee has had and their effects. From this we are able to identify the family i.e. Assan the interviewee says that he loved his dad much. He also asserts that he is from a very large family and apart from this he is married. Other information gotten that helps in the interpretation of this data on relationship is the information on his religion. He says that he is a Muslim, this implies that that apart from Assan having a family to belong to, he also have another ties based on faith, this brings the sense of relationship. Also, the sense of interaction comes from the perspective that Assan is an employee and works as a journalist, he has his workmates, has the clients among other components in the working field. This adds weight to the concept of relationship and thus broadens it beyond the surface meaning that we may be knowing. . (Braun and Clarke 2006)
Other codes noticed include the verbal mode that was chosen in carrying out the research. This played a very big role in creating confidence in the client. We can figure out that the interviewee (Assan) was confident in answering these questions. This method also played a role in ensuring that the efforts of the interviewee are appreciated. This is because there was someone to spend with him, the social aspect, to tell him of the intentions of the research. This mode also ensured that the interviewee is assured of the security or rather the confidentiality of the information, the anonymity of the source of information.
There are incidences that make us think that the ethical approach to an interview was observed. This is evidenced from the incident where the interviewer asks the interviewee to sign the consent form. Also from the onset of the interview we are able to get it clearly that the two had had conversation before and Assan (the interviewee) had accepted to appear for the interview. When the interview ends the interviewee acknowledges that he is glad for having had the interview. This is symbols that directly show the contribution of the mode of research collection.
Stage three of the analysis of this data involved searching for the themes that avail themselves from this conversation. The different codes that do collate to produce very potential themes as far as gathering data is concerned. (Attride, 2001).
From this interview, we are able to identify some themes that come forth. There is the theme of belonging. The concept of the family is brought out clearly when Assan says that he is from a large family where they were nine five brothers, four sisters and he is the youngest. He also says that he is married to Alya and would soon like to have a family. This imply that despite the fact that he understand that he is a free man in this would, he has some attachment. These attachments come from mutual feelings, blood relationships. The concept of religion also justifies this fact in that he understands that he belongs to a certain faith. This brings the sense of belonging (Braun & Clarke, 2006)
There is also the theme of economic activities. From Assan’s statements, we are able to see that the father was a merchandiser, and himself he is a journalist. Economic activities can tell a person of your economic abilities. So, in essence what am deducing is that is able to fend for himself since he has a job, with a job a person is able to take care of himself and say his family.
Another theme coming to the surface is the theme of religion. Assan says that he is a Muslim. This implicates that there are several different types of religions that he has encountered and has known the boundaries of their practices. In bringing forth the topic of study, these themes provide different avenues where relationships can be formed. This should have brought forth the question of perspectives of relationships.
From this interview, the mode was favoring. It was not that official. It encouraged somebody to talk, answer questions willingly and above all be confident in whatever is taking place.
The way the respondent, Assan reacts to the question is very explorative. He gives elaborate answers that need no more questions concerning the same. Apart from this we are able to deduce that this provided enough answer than the interviewer wanted, this is because, after asking a question, no more questions are asked concerning the same. This provides the surety that the research question is fully addressed (Braun & Clarke, 2006).
The fourth stage involves the reviewing of the themes mentioned. This involves finding how the different themes are connected in the realization of the intended purpose of the research. How do the themes work hand in hand with other codes to ensure that the overall purpose is achieved? This will help us generate the thematic map of this analysis. In this stage, I came to realize that other codes like language have given the research a meaning.
This is in the sense that by use of the same language these people were able to understand each other and respond. By doing this it means that without this commonness then there will be no outcome. So, with the common language all the themes are able to come forth. Also with history in place, the theme of family has come to be known. Through this theme we are able to realize that early childhood experiences have great roles in shaping peoples behavior even later in life. The interviewee says that his dad used to tell them how to interact with people though they were Muslims they were to interact with people with out being biased. The collective roles played by the different themes in realizing that the different research questions are addressed are very many (Braun & Clarke, 2006).
Definition and naming of themes is the next stage of analysis. This stage goes forth to refine these themes, their specifics, the overall stories that the analysis is about, generation of definitions and names for each theme.
The final stage in the analysis of this report is its production. This is the overall analysis of the report. It involves the vivid selection and compelling of extracts that can be used as examples. It also involves analysis of various selected extracts that are relating in the analysis of the research questions and the literature that is used in the production of this report of the analysis. (Attride, 2001)
In analyzing the data below, I realized that the research is focused. It majorly concentrates on relationships which the person who prepared the research questions tell us at the introductory part when it is mentioned that as they had discussed the issue on the telephone that the focus of the research interviews was to concern the topic on the relationships, this interview was very specific and tries to find out the experience of the respondent concerning the topic relationships. This come clearly from the way the researcher asks and directs the questions. However the themes are not clearly labeled to help the researcher to keep an eye on a specific are before moving towards the next. For example, the researcher should have focused fully on the experience of the respondent on the relationships that the he has experienced (Braun & Clarke, 2006).
It is also evident from the interview that the respondent willingly turned for the interview. This comes clearly from the very point when the interviewer welcome, the interviewee i.e. ‘’Thank you for coming along today, Assan’’ this means that the researcher was waiting for the respondent to turn up for the interview. This is also supported from the very words of the researcher when she refers to their conversation over the phone. This simply implies that these two people had booked an appointment before and were now looking forward to meet and have their chat.
From this point we are able to see that the topic of study is being approached very well in that they try to give it different perspectives. They ask questions from the relationship he has had with the father, the family at large, and the adult relationships among others. By approaching at this interview in this way, there is a possibility that the impacts of relationships and especially, early relationships have really affected the way do face their current lives. This helps direct the research purpose in that it brings clearly what is being researched (Attride, 2001).
This research is very relevant in that the questions are all directed towards the topic of research. This helps so much in achieving the goal of study. It is relationship from the onset till it ends. This just shows the extend to which the interview was focused. From the past relationships to the current and from intimate to social relationships (Braun & Clarke, 2006).
From this interview, we are able to say that the ethical approach to interviews was used. After seeking the consent of Assan we are able to see at the end that he is assured of confidentiality. He is being told to sign a consent form and because there is no evidence of refusal, we are therefore right to say that Assan signed the letter. This makes it clear that Assan was well with the interview and from his closing remarks we are able to see that he was happy of it. Despite this, the interviewer also tells him of what is to be done to the interview. The interviewer creates confidence in Assan and we can term the interview as successful.
Despite the fact that this interview was successful because of its length, it is not detailed. It does not give much coverage to the research topic i.e. relationships. It is thus strict and does not give access to various components for example the definition, factors that contribute to it, the dimensions a relationship can take among others. We find that should these been given considerations the interview could have come up with more details than it has displayed.
Another thing that I noticed is that the interview was kept short to make it lovely and this can be proved by its length. At the end we are able to get the remarks that the interviewee has and they are very encouraging. We find that both of them are fine with the interview meaning that none of them was not contended with the whole process. The fact that the interviewer is the one who gave the okay for the interviewee tom leave means that all the information required has been achieved and even she is satisfied.
It is also worth noting that the process was motivated by the mindset of both parties. This was very important for the achievement of this interview. From the beginning of the interview, the comfort that these people had in themselves, the prior knowledge of the interview especially to the interviewee gives the morale of him doing it within it in mind i.e. they were prepared for it.
In concluding this analysis I would like to point out at the strengths of the whole process. The person who prepared the project was in line with the requirements of the research. He made it sure that the whole thing was to be as confidential as possible by hiding the identity, keeping it sure that it is to moderate length and above all ensured that there was this formal interaction of the interview. The language that was used was also simple to ease the understanding i.e. there is no word that needed clarification. All these contributed to the well done process. This is to say that it was a job well done.
References
Attride S. J. (2001). The thematic networks: Qualitative Research Tool. London: McGraw hill Publishers.
Braun V. & Clarke, V. (2006). Thematic analysis as used in psychology. London: Oxford University Press.
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