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Understanding Reflexive Thematic Analysis

The document outlines key differences between qualitative and quantitative research paradigms, highlighting aspects such as research purpose, truth orientation, researcher roles, and data analysis methods. It also introduces reflexive thematic analysis (TA) as a process consisting of six phases, emphasizing that the process is distinct from the method itself. The text encourages understanding the underlying values and assumptions that inform the reflexive TA approach.

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30 views2 pages

Understanding Reflexive Thematic Analysis

The document outlines key differences between qualitative and quantitative research paradigms, highlighting aspects such as research purpose, truth orientation, researcher roles, and data analysis methods. It also introduces reflexive thematic analysis (TA) as a process consisting of six phases, emphasizing that the process is distinct from the method itself. The text encourages understanding the underlying values and assumptions that inform the reflexive TA approach.

Uploaded by

williamhand999
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

6 | THEMATIC ANALYSIS

Table 1.1 Overview of some key differences between qualitative and quantitative
research
paradigms

Aspect of research Qualitative paradigm Quantitative paradigm


Research purpose Most broadly, focused on meaning—from — Recording and
understanding truth;
understanding situated meaning to often seeking explanatory models or
interrogating meaning-making practices. theories.
Aims to generate contextualised and Often reductive, often hypothesis
situated knowledge. testing.
Big Theory positions related to how An only-ever partially knowable world, A world
knowable through systematic
reality (ontology) and knowledge where meaning and interpretation are observation
and experimentation.
(epistemology) are understood always situated practices. Non-positivist;
Positivist or postpositivist; realist.

multiple and varied theories (e.g.


constructionist, critical realist).

Orientation to truth Situated or life-embedded truth, partial Singular truth.


truth, multiple truths.
Researcher role Situated interpreter of meaning; subjective /mpartia/ observer of
object of study;
storyteller. Subjectivity valued. unbiased reporter. Objectivity valued,
which subjectivity threatens.
Researcher subjectivity Not just unproblematic, but an asset, Introduces bias which
threatens
especially if reflexively engaged with. analytic validity; requires measures to
control.

Orientation to influence of subjectivity Reflexivity as a tool to both interrogate


and Bias contro! measures to reduce or

harness the value of. eliminate influence.


Data purpose and sampling To gain rich, in-depth understanding; Ideally to gain
generalisable
smaller samples valued. understanding; larger, representative
samples ideal.
Data analysis Focused on text and meaning. Focused on numbers; relationships

between variables, cause and effect.

Contributions to knowledge Part of a rich tapestry of understanding. Stepping-stone


towards complete or
perfect understanding.

CAN WE PROVIDE A SIMPLE OVERVIEW OF REFLEXIVE TA?

Yes, and no. The analytic process we have described is one of six phases: (1)
dataset familiar-
isation (see Chapter Two); (2) data coding (see Chapter Three); (3) initial theme
generation;
(4) theme development and review; (5) theme refining, defining and naming (see
Chapter
Four for phases 3-5); and (6) writing up (see Chapter Five). But the process is not
the method.
The process applies the method to work with and makes sense of data, but is
embedded in,
and surrounded by, a bigger set of values, assumptions and practices, which,
collectively,
make up the method. We introduce these val-
ALERT Don't make the mistake of ues, assumptions and practices in enough depth
treating the phases of reflexive TA asthe _in this chapter for you to get started
on reflexive
method. TA; the rest of the book takes you deeper.
''

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