Qualitative data analysis for applied policy research

“Our analysis followed a Framework Approach, 26,27 a type of thematic analysis often used in interdisciplinary heath research, 26 to allow for within-and across-case analysis over time.”

“Further data were extracted and subsequently analysed using the Framework Method (Ritchie and Spencer 1994), adapting the process set out by Gale et al. (2013) as required.”

“Mapping the codes involves examining the transcript, coding, grouping codes into themes and subthemes, and identifying the core concept through axial and selective coding [63, 64], moving back and forth between the codes and the original data [64].”

“Framework analysis was used as it can be helpful to address the contextual and evaluative type research questions that this study was undertaking (61).”

“Quantitative data will be collected from validated self-report tools, including the Compassionate and Engagement Scales, Social Communication Questionnaire, and the Receiving from Others subscale of the Fears of Compassion Scale [98–100].”

“We analyzed the data inductively using a Framework Method [37], a structured form of thematic analysis that involves the creation of data displays to facilitate the identification of themes and patterns in the data.”

“In the first stage of FA, JC checked transcripts for accuracy, imported them into NVivo Release 1.6.1. and then began familiarising herself with the data (33).”

“In addition, we categorized the main benefits received and the costs experienced by the local population as mentioned by the respondents during the survey based on the key research question as in Patton (2002) and Ritchie and Spencer (2002).”

“27 The process followed is described next 27 : • Familiarisation: Transcripts were read and re-read multiple times to become familiar with the interview data.”

“Framework analysis is composed of five stages [43].”

“Sessions were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Framework Analy‑ sis [24,25].”

“Initial codes were developed inductively, aligning closely with participants’ language and organized by question (Ritchie & Spencer, 1994).”

“Transcripts of the inter-views were then analyzed by two independent researchers using the framework analysis approach (Spencer & Ritchie, 2002).”

“…framework; (c) indexing or coding data illustrations (e.g., quotes, free text responses, etc.) against the framework; (d) summarizing the indexed data through charts or tables or matrices; and (e) identifying patterns and interpreting these patterns from the data (Ritchie and Spencer, 2002).”

“…first (a) familiarized with transcripts, (b) developed a thematic framework, (c) indexed data according to emerging themes, (d) charted data within the framework and finally and (e) mapped and interpreted relationships between themes in relation to the study objectives (Ritchie and Spencer, 2002).”

“These questions were phrased to re fl ect both the intent and operational conditions of each principle, allowing them to function as analytical criteria during document analysis (Ritchie and Spencer 2002; Bowen 2009).”

“It enabled deductive organisation of data according to the AFC and Place Standard frameworks, while also allowing new patterns to emerge inductively across participants and contexts [39, 41, 42].”

“The extracted textual data were subjected to a deductive thematic analysis approach, a method well-suited for interpreting policy documents [7, 31] through a pre-defined theoretical lens.”

“Thematic analysis was done using a framework matrix (Ritchie & Spencer, 2002) created in NVivo: individual cases were rows, and codes from the subthemes were columns, with a column for need satisfaction or frustration of each basic psychological, as well as for each actor in the social network of…”

“18 Moreover, there is limited implementation research on consultations dedicated exclusively to PA prescription and referral.”

“Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, translated and back-translated, prior to being subjected to framework analysis [33].”

“The analyst is tasked with constructing a comprehensive understanding of the data by employing the thematic framework to individual transcripts and meticulously examining the spectrum of attitudes and experiences associated with each issue or thematic perspective (Ritchie & Spencer, 2002).”

“Second-level analysis employed the Framework Analysis method, initially developed by Ritchie and Spencer [5].”

“…each individual transcript; [5] extracting and indexing data against the framework matrix; [6] a charting process to identify, clarify, and summarize relationships and patterns within the indexed data; and [7] mapping and interpretation of patterns found within the framework and the summaries [69].”

“According to Liu Y. L. et al. (2023), we adopted thematic analysis combining “top-down” framework analysis (Ritchie and Spencer, 2002) and “bottom-up” grounded theory (Glaser and Strauss, 2017).”

“Thematic framework analysis (Ritchie & Spencer, 1994) was applied, combining deductive categories from existing theoretical categories and inductive patterns emerging from Verbal or written threats to emigrants or their families Forced exile Directly prohibiting dissidents abroad from entering…”

“Qualitative data were analysed using Lumivero NVivo (Release 1.0), following the framework method (Ritchie and Spencer 2002).”

“21,22 A preliminary thematic framework was developed based upon previous research and the interview guide involving M.V.D.E., I.K., A.B., M.A., H.B., S.S., Y.G., guided by S.P., N.P., Z.C. Analysis was concurrent with data collection.”

“We analysed policy content using five steps outlined by Ritchie and Spencer (1994) [32, 33] in their guidance on policy research, including familiarisation; identifying a thematic framework; indexing; charting; and mapping and interpretation.”

“Framework Analysis was used to analyse the transcripts inductively and deductively approach, this approach allows the integration of a priori constructs such as those identified in the literature review and for new themes to emerge [24].”

“We followed the five stages of framework analysis outlined by Ritchie and Spencer [27]: (1) Familiarised with all transcripts and field notes; (2) Developed initial codes using a combined deductive ‐ inductive approach shaped by our research question and prior literature, while allowing new codes…”

“1; Table 1); indexing all study data against the framework; charting and summarize the indexed data; and mapping and interpretating patterns within the charts [23].”

“In this study, we employed the Framework Method (FM), as outlined by Ritchie and Spencer (2002), to conduct a structured analysis of interview transcripts.”

“Ritchie and Spencer’s five step Framework Analysis Process [36] was used to analyse the data, as it allows for incorporation of prior knowledge and theory.”

“In steps 1 and 2, we developed an initial deductive coding framework (Ritchie & Spencer, 1994) of thematic categories (see Additional file 7) based on familiarity with the review topic, the review aim, the included studies, and a theory-informed implementation framework for policy-maker decision…”

“Framework analysis was developed to do applied research, to systematically identify, describe and interpret themes and maintain the integrity of cases (Ritchie and Spencer, 1994) across large datasets (Goldsmith, 2021).”

“46,47 The process followed five stages: famil-iarisation, framework development, indexing, charting, and mapping and interpretation.”

“The process was described by Ritchie and Spencer (2002) as “sifting, charting and sorting materials according to key themes and issues”.”

“K.T. used the ‘ framework approach ’ to analyse the interviews [15].”

“A secondary analysis using a content analysis and framework approach was undertaken to explore whether the participant experiences of workplace challenges related to the four domains of the JDAPT (Pandey, 2019; Ritchie & Spencer, 1994).”

“Outputs were reviewed and analyzed using a thematic framework analysis [18].”

“Due to the clear a priori aims and mapping of the interview schedule against the TDF to evaluate the project’s process and effects through qualitative exploration, framework analysis [41] was used analyse the interview transcript data.”

“FA is not bound by a specific epistemological position and provides‘best fit’ for this type of research (Gale et al., 2013; Ritchie & Spencer, 1994).”

“We used the Framework Method to analyse data [16, 17], following Gale et al.’s guide [18]: (i) transcription, (ii) familiarisation with the data, (iii) coding, (iv) developing an analytical framework, (v) applying the framework, (vi) charting data into the framework matrix, and (vii) interpreting…”

“Analysis followed the five stages out-lined by Ritchie and Spencer (1994): familiarization; identifying a framework; indexing; charting; and mapping and interpretation.”

“Qualitative data was analysed following the principles of framework [33] and iterative categorisation [34, 35].”

“Ritchie’s and Spencer’s (1994) Framework method, involving five interconnected stages, was used for data analysis [15, 16].”

“FA is a matrix-based method that has fi ve sequential stages of data analysis (Ritchie & Spencer, 1994; Smith & Firth, 2011).”

“We employed framework analysis, a systematic method well utilised in healthcare research [18].”

“The study employed a qualitative approach, utilizing Ritchie and Spencer’s [36] five-step framework analysis method to systematically analyze the data.”

“…thematic analysis that identifies similarities and differences in qualitative data as well as connections between various data elements in order to derive themes, subthemes and conclusions that are either descriptive or explanatory in an iterative process (Gale et al. 2013; Ritchie & Spencer 2002).”

“The data were analyzed using framework analysis (Ritchie & Spencer, 1994).”

“The third step of theoretical validity assessment will be a comparative analysis of frameworks [21,22].”

“A thematic analysis was carried out using a framework approach [19].”

“Transcripts were analysed using thematic framework analysis (Ritchie & Spencer, 1994), an approach which supports identification, analysis and reporting of patterns within the data.”

“Charting involved organising data collaboratively (KC, AD, DP, EK) creative categories under relevant headings and subheadings, while preserving original participation quotes [24].”

“A modified framework approach, 29 summarised in table 2, will be used to identify themes relating to conceptual frameworks for older Aboriginal peoples’ well-being and access to care such as the Good Spirit Good Life tool 39 and Davy’s framework for access to primary care for Aboriginal peoples.”

“Framework analysis (Ritchie & Spencer, 2002; Ward et al., 2013) was used for analyzing data in the study.”

“Resultant data was analysed using Richie and Spencer’s [47] five stages of thematic framework analysis to explore participants perceptions of the JPM and their experiences of participating in questionnaire studies in suicide prevention related research.”

“We applied a multi-perspective view in the final phase of the analysis to gain a richer understanding of needs, experiences, barriers, and facilitators by triangulation [32], which enabled us to explore complimentary and contradictory perspectives [21–23].”

“The next steps were charting, mapping, and interpretation in which the data was structured, abstracted, and summarized [24].”

“The interviews generated a corpus of text of 55k words, which was analysed using a ‘framework’ approach to qualitative discourse analysis (Gale et al., 2013; Jones, 2000; Ritchie and Spencer, 2002).”

“It enables to learn empirical events, experiences, and potential analytic ideas [26, 27].”

“Finally, regarding the analysis, in the task of exploring the subjective and incorporated dimensions of the ‘unsaid’, I have combined a thematic analysis (Ritchie & Spencer, 1994) with a life history calendar (Freedman et al., 1988).”

“Data were analyzed using framework analysis, an analytic approach appropriate to analyze qualitative data for public policy formulation [25, 26].”

“Data management and analysis followed the five stages of framework analysis (Ritchie & Spencer, 2002).”

“After initial famil-iarisation with the data and frequently reverting to the recordings (to identify nuances), a coding framework was developed using guidelines described by Ritchie and Spencer, 9 for thematic analysis.”

“The framework method was originally developed for thematic analysis of applied policy research [36] and has been extensively used within family medicine and primary care research in South Africa [37].”

“The data were considered within five stages, with the main aim of identifying an analytic framework consisting of themes and sub-themes for the purpose of applying it to the whole dataset (Goldsmith, 2021; Ritchie and Spencer, 1994; Spencer et al., 2014).”

“…to the analysis methods (i.e., tools used to analyse data)), one study directly mentioned applying thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke 2006), another study mentioned applying Grounded Theory (Bryman and Burgess 2002) and two studies mentioned the framework approach (Ritchie and Spencer 2002).”

“Data were analysed using a framework approach which entailed familiarisation with the dataset [19].”

“Of the 20 healthcare professionals invited to participate, nine did not respond, and an appropriate interview time was unable to be scheduled for another.”

“However, as discussed by Ritchie and Spencer (1994), and other users of FA (see Parkinson et al. (2016) for a worked example), the process of in-depth mapping and interpretation also allows for the identification of broader themes, and this was the case here.”

“Charting refers to the process of interpreting qualitative data by sifting, charting and sorting material according to key issues and themes (Bryman and Burgess, 1994).”

“We then adopted a protocol by Ritchie and Spencer (1994) that included familiarization with the data by reading and rereading, preparing summary notes while coding the data, engaging in conceptual notetaking by annotating the data, identification of emerging themes, and identification and selection…”

“For an example of a coding reliability thematic analysis, see Boyatzis (1998); see King and Brooks (2018) and Ritchie and Spencer (1994) for codebook examples.”

“14 Following data familiarisation, key ideas and recurrent themes were noted with a thematic framework identified from emerging themes or issues.”

“We conducted a framework analysis, the history, philosophical assumptions, and main processes of which have been described elsewhere 22 .”

“The principle investigator undertook a thematic analysis on the focus-group and interview data, using the five-step process of Framework Analysis (Ritchie & Spencer, 1994).”

“31 Following the initial identification and prior-itisation of salient themes, a deductive process will be undertaken to map themes to both the TDF and NPT, providing a critical lens through which greater depth of understanding of current practice, barriers and facilitators to implementation and…”

“Throughout this process, we recognized that understanding qualitative data involves more than just identifying patterns; it also involves assessing the significance and dynamics of issues and seeking a coherent structure rather than a multitude of evidence, as noted by Ritchie and Spencer (2002).”

“In a framework analysis, the specific research question is used to develop initial broad categories within the framework, and subsequent analysis and coding refines the framework 24 (see online supplemental appendix 1: Coding framework).”