Paper Example on the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Thematic Data Analysis Method

Introduction

Kohtakangas, Perttula, & Syvajarvi, (2015) used a grounded theory and thematic content analysis method. The data analysis method used was thematic content analyses whereby contents of similar themes were classified and patterns from the themes recorded. However, it is important to note that the researchers used open coding and selective coding to enable easy pattern recognition. The themes such as self-soothing effects," "communicative practices," and "defensive attitude," were registered and the open coding memo helped in understanding the number of instances the themes appeared in the memos. After the open coding, the researcher used the axial coding which involved listing the entire emerging concept to develop categories. Through axial coding, the researcher used rearranged the concepts that were previously uncovered in the open coding phase. All the occasions, actions, contexts, relations, effects, and consequences were listed

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The thematic content categorization and analysis is used mainly in qualitative research. Al the themes that were covered within the data were examined to help in rich excitation of the data set. The coded data were then interpreted by comparing themes in the frequencies if themes as well as the co-occurrence of the themes. The themes were identified from the responses to the open-ended questions. The assertion was reported with data based on the grounded theory and the goals were to construct theories that have been deeply grounded in the data (Constantinou, Georgiou & Perdikogianni, 2017; Migliorini & Rania, 2016). One can also consider the method one of the most effective reflective focus as the thematic analysis involves reading interview scripts, identifying the entire theme, as well as comparing and contrasting the themes and developing an appropriate theoretical model (Yang, 2008). The researcher also used the inductive process of data analysis as the themes that were identified were linked to the data and all the assumption were data driven.

Comment on the advantages and disadvantages of the chosen data analysis method

Advantages of Thematic Analysis

The thematic analysis offers more theoretical freedom. It is a highly flexible approach that the researcher can modify depending on the needs of the study. The main advantages are the rich and detailed account of the qualitative data (Alphonse, 2017; Armborst, 2017). The thematic content analysis does not need the detailed theoretical and technological expertise required by the other qualitative approaches. This makes it the most accessible form of analysis (Alvaro, 2017). The method is easy to learn and apply (Ahram, 2011; Brown, 2010). One can easily identify the pattern in the responses by simply reading the responses and tabulating the occurrences of the key themes in the responses. It is also easy to understand the key features of the large data sets (Hsiao, 2006; Walters, 2016). For example, by taking a properly structured approach to data handling, clear and more organized analysis of the phenomenon can be made (Javadi & Zarea, 2016; Melguen, 1974; Miller, 1979).

Disadvantages of Thematic Analysis

Even though the thematic content analysis offers more advantages, it is also important to understand that drawback of the method. For example, it is difficult to establish the trustworthiness of the method. Most of the decision is subjective and not objective as seen in grounded theory, ethnography and phenomenology (Vaismoradi, Jones, Turunen & Snelgrove, 2016; Park, Shon, Kwon, Yoon & Kwon, 2017). It is not easy to conduct reliable yet rigorous thematic analysis (Simonton, 1980; Springer & Harwood, 2014; Mills & Ratcliffe, 2012). Secondly, the thematic content analysis may be flexible but also introduces the risk of inconsistency and compromise coherences whenever the researcher is developing themes from the research data (Pitt, 2002). Unless the researcher makes an epistemological position that can effectively underpin the study, the research may not be conclusive.

References

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