Ravalier PhD Theis.pdf - Anglia Ruskin Research Online

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to outcomes from Table 23. This table represents the number of times each particular theme came up, with just
the most often mentioned included.
4b) Qualitative Data Analysis (Semi-Structured Interviews)
4b.1) Thematic Analysis
The semi-structured interviews conducted as part of the AI process were analysed using a thematic analysis.
Qualitative data collection analysis methods are diverse and complex (Braun & Clarke, 2006), with thematic
analysis one of the least recollected yet most widely-used method (Howitt & Cramer, 2011). Thematic analysis is a
method used by qualitative researchers for the identification and reporting of themes or patterns within a data set.
Indeed Howitt and Cramer (2011) suggest that the task of the thematic analytical researcher is to adequately
identify themes which represent the data collected in the form of interviews, focus groups or other textual material.
When conducting analysis of qualitative data in this way the goal of the researcher is to identify a number of
themes which best represent the essence of the data it seeks to analyse.
Within thematic analysis the end goal is to draw out the overarching themes from within a data set with
these themes representing the general concepts that have emerged from an analysis (Langdridge & Hagger-
Johnson, 2009). However thematic analysis differs from other qualitative methods such as Interpretive
Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and Grounded Theory which seek to identify patterns in the data which are
theoretically grounded. Thematic analysis does not take the same theoretical underpinnings as used in either of
the two aforementioned methods which mean that it can be more widely used by both experienced and novice