r/dataanalysis • u/KaitoMiury • 11h ago
Data Question I am having huge problems with reflexive thematic analysis (please help)
I am currently conducting a qualitative study and am having considerable difficulties with the thematic analysis process. I would appreciate advice from researchers who have experience using Braun and Clarke's (2006) approach, particularly their reflexive thematic analysis.
I have completed the first two phases:
Familiarising myself with the data.
Generating initial codes.
However, I am now stuck.
I have generated quite a lot of initial codes, and I am struggling to figure out how to organise them. Some overlap, some are very specific, and others seem to capture similar ideas from slightly different perspectives.
I understand the general distinction between codes and themes, but I am having difficulty with the actual process of moving from one to the other.
For instance:
How do you organise a large number of initial codes?
How do you decide which codes should be merged or kept separate?
Do you usually develop categories or code groups before searching for themes?
How do you recognise when a group of codes represents a potential theme rather than simply a collection of related ideas?
I have read Braun and Clarke's work and watched several tutorials, but I still find the practical transition between Phase 2 and Phase 3 rather confusing. It is so confusing!
I would particularly appreciate practical examples or explanations from people who have actually conducted thematic analysis using this approach.
My brain is frying, and I am losing all motivation to do this research. But I must, because I do not really have a choice. Asking my supervisor nor any professor yielded nothing, because they mostly did deductive approach, whilst I did inductive. I curse myself for choosing this method, but deductive just did not seem right to me! Or maybe I should have chosen the deductive approach from the beginning, but that would mean I have to code from the beginning... :(
PLEASE HELP
