The DOI matches its Crossref record; 34 of the 37 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 17 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.
A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis
Open accessAbstract
Thematic analysis is an increasingly popular method for analysing qualitative data within the social sciences. Current guides for conducting thematic analysis promote the method’s broad flexibility across research designs, which has resulted in criticism that the method lacks the rigour and structure necessary for credible academic research. Recognizing the challenges faced by qualitative scholars, I developed and present an 8-step prescriptive approach specific to abductive methodologies incorporating many concepts from seminal works in thematic analysis, and importantly maintaining the balance of theorising with empirical data, which is the core of abductive research.
Overview
AI snapshot
Written from the paper’s full text.
TL;DR
The paper presents an 8-step prescriptive guide for conducting abductive thematic analysis, balancing empirical data with extant theory. It argues this structured approach addresses criticisms of thematic analysis as lacking rigour while remaining specific to abductive research designs.
Key findings
- Proposes an 8-step process: transcription and familiarisation, coding, codebook, development of themes, theorising, comparison of datasets, data display, and writing up.
- Abductive thematic analysis should produce latent themes, with theorising as a distinct step where existing theory guides but does not determine explanation; theory can be refined, changed, adapted, or consolidated when data do not fit.
- Recommends at least 2–3 rounds of coding and a codebook with label, definition, “when to use”/“when not to use” criteria, and an example quotation; thematic network analysis can show how themes derive from codes.
- Uses examples from the author’s research on ski resort employees and volunteer tourism, including consolidating “fun” and “exciting” codes into “enjoyable work” and combining Bourdieu’s practice theory with Blumer’s symbolic interactionism.
Methods
- Conceptual/methodological paper, not an empirical study; develops an 8-step guide initially during the author’s PhD and refined through the author’s own research and teaching.
- Integrates concepts from thematic analysis (e.g., codebook from Guest et al., 2012; thematic network analysis from Attride-Stirling, 2001) with seminal abductive research principles.
- Illustrates steps with examples from the author’s prior studies, including ski resort employees and volunteer tourism projects.
Limitations
- The paper states it is not a one-size-fits-all or flexible method for all thematic analysis; it is tailored specifically to abductive research methodologies.
- The paper notes that advocates of reflexive/inductive thematic analysis have disregarded the codebook as positivistic, and that quantification of qualitative data is often impossible and unnecessary for exploratory conceptual understanding.
- Evident from the text: the guide is based on the author’s experience and selected examples rather than systematic empirical validation or comparison with other abductive thematic analysis guides.
Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.
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Claims the paper makes
10 Not checked yet · 6 Own interpretation
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“However, quantification is not necessary for qualitative thematic analysis.”
§ A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis > Step (6) Comparison of Datasets
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: unclear — It is unclear whether the paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
In the paper
“Presenting quotations also improves trustworthiness, as the veracity of the raw empirical data is difficult to challenge, and is a method for demonstrating reflexivity by giving voice to the participants independent of your personal opinions or feelings (Guest et al., 2012).”
§ A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis > Step (8) Writing Up
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites Guest et al., 2012
plaindirect- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: unclear — It is unclear whether the paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“Current guides for conducting thematic analysis promote the method's broad flexibility across research designs”
§ A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis > Abstract
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites Guest et al., 2012
- Not checked yetcites Nowell et al., 2017
- Not checked yetcites Braun & Clarke, 2006
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
In the paper
“The theoretical contributions produce a degree of generalizability, as the theorisation of the raw data transcends the individualised social setting, as it has links to existing knowledge and understanding (Coffey & Atkinson, 1996).”
§ A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis > Abductive Data Analysis
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites Coffey & Atkinson, 1996
plaindirect- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: unclear — It is unclear whether the paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“A thematic network analysis technique can address these concerns.”
§ A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis > Step (7) Data Display
plaindirect- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
- Rests on an assumption: When abductively analysing data, often reviewers will question if an academic has over-reached and whether theoretical contributions are truly representative of the raw data.
In the paper
“Accordingly, abductive research is described as recursive and iterative because theory is generated theory, but also theoretical development is culled in areas where phenomena are adequately explained by extant literature (Timmermans & Tavory, 2012).”
§ A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis > Abductive Data Analysis
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites Timmermans & Tavory, 2012
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: unclear — It is unclear whether the paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
- Probably not a substantial claim. 9
- It may state two separate claims as one. 2
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“which has resulted in criticism that the method lacks the rigour and structure necessary for credible academic research.”
§ A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis > Abstract
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites Braun et al., 2019
- Not checked yetcites Braun & Clarke, 2019
- Not checked yetcites Lochmiller, 2021
plaindirect- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“In the case of abductive thematic analysis, latent themes should always be the outcome as theorisation is central to abductive reasoning, as shall be discussed in the following step.”
§ A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis > Step (4) Development of Themes
boosteddirect- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“Thematic analysis is an increasingly popular method for analysing qualitative data within the social sciences.”
§ A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis > Abstract
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites Braun et al., 2019
- Not checked yetcites Campbell et al., 2021
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: fails — The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“This is an important part of abductive thematic analysis, making it distinct from other guides to qualitative analysis.”
§ A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis > Step (5) Theorising
plaindirect- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.
In the paper
“Overall, the consolidation of an abductive research design with thematic analysis is an effective tool for gathering rich understanding from participant narratives, while ensuring findings have theoretical generalizability (Coffey & Atkinson, 1996).”
§ A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis > Conclusion
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites Coffey & Atkinson, 1996
plaindirect- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“However, like with Step 6, there is no requirement for data display to be quantified.”
§ A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis > Step (7) Data Display
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: fails — The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“maintaining the balance of theorising with empirical data, which is the core of abductive research.”
§ A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis > Abstract
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites Atkinson et al., 2003
- Not checked yetcites Hurley et al., 2021
- Not checked yetcites Kelle, 1997
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim.
In the paper
“Braun et al. (2019) specifically point to the similarities between their approach to thematic analysis with grounded theory, interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA), and the active role of the researcher in generating themes.”
§ A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis > Introduction
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites Braun et al., 2019
plaincorrelational- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: fails — The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“This method can act as a point of departure for any exploratory qualitative data analysis, when a researcher wishes to incorporate theoretical frameworks to guide the research findings.”
§ A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis > Conclusion
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: fails — It may be too vague to check against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence.
In the paper
“Many researchers also cite Braun and Clarke (2006), yet within their methodology, there is no mention of researcher reflexivity central to their style of analysis.”
§ A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis A Guide to Abductive Thematic Analysis > Introduction
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites Braun and Clarke, 2006
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim.
The paper relies on this without support.
Guides for abductive research designs are lacking.
“Yet, guides for abductive research designs are lacking.”
The paper relies on this without support.
There is limited discussion of an abductive approach to thematic analysis in the qualitative research literature.
“Yet, there is limited discussion of an abductive approach to thematic analysis in the qualitative research literature.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Coding is a cyclical act, as the first round of coding rarely succeeds in identifying all codes.
“Coding is a cyclical act, as the first round of coding rarely succeeds in identifying all codes and, therefore, it is recommended to undertake at least 2-3 rounds of coding.”
The paper relies on this without support.
When abductively analysing data, often reviewers will question if an academic has over-reached and whether theoretical contributions are truly representative of the raw data.
“When abductively analysing data, often reviewers will question if an academic has over-reached and whether theoretical contributions are truly representative of the raw data.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Even within top-ranked journals, data displays are often constructed simply using shape and arrow tools available within MS Word.
“However, even within top-ranked journals, data displays (such as that shown in Figure 3) are often constructed simply using shape and arrow tools available within MS Word”
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“The placement students' reflections were focused on their collaborative experiences, and were analysed by academic researchers using an abductive approach (Thompson, 2022), to construct themes that are grounded in the data (inductive coding) but also informed by existing literature on SaP (deductive coding).”
From Co-creating custom GPTs: an autoethnographic study of undergraduate students as partners in generative AI innovation (2026) · cites this paper as Thompson, 2022
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Citations
Cites
Using thematic analysis in psychology
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006) · Qualitative Research in Psychology · doi:10.1191/1478088706qp063oa · Cited by 194,414 · cited 15×
“At this point, some scholars have suggested researchers should make decisions upon which themes are overarching, which are primary/secondary, and which are sub-themes based on their importance to the study (Braun & Clarke, 2006).”
InfluentialQualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcebook
(1994) · Journal of Environmental Psychology · doi:10.1016/s0272-4944(05)80231-2 · Cited by 48,420 · cited 4×
“Data display is usually associated with reducing qualitative data into quantitative matrices to display data better visually (Boyatzis, 1998; Miles & Huberman, 1994).”
InfluentialLincoln, Y. S., Guba, E. G., & Pilotta, J. J. (1985) · International Journal of Intercultural Relations · doi:10.1016/0147-1767(85)90062-8 · Cited by 45,787
Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2019) · Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health · doi:10.1080/2159676x.2019.1628806 · Cited by 19,677 · cited 2×
“…this flexibility has resulted in thematic analysis being employed with a “mishmash” of different approaches and divergent philosophies (Braun et al., 2019; Braun & Clarke, 2019), which has been detrimental to the credibility of thematic research designs (Lochmiller, 2021; Nowell et al., 2017).”
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Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2012) · APA handbook of research methods in psychology, Vol 2: Research designs: Quantitative, qualitative, neuropsychological, and biological. · doi:10.1037/13620-004 · Cited by 10,299
One size fits all? What counts as quality practice in (reflexive) thematic analysis?
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2021) · Qualitative Research in Psychology · doi:10.1080/14780887.2020.1769238 · Cited by 9,727 · cited 2×
“Figure 1 is an extract from a codebook, in which participants discussed their financial concerns: have disregarded the codebook as a positivistic tool (Braun et al., 2019; Braun & Clarke, 2021).”
Guest, G., MacQueen, K., & Namey, E. (2012) · doi:10.4135/9781483384436 · Cited by 7,924 · cited 20×
“Upon completion of Steps 1 through to 7, the findings should be written up with headings denoting each theme (Guest et al., 2012).”
InfluentialThematic networks: an analytic tool for qualitative research
Attride-Stirling, J. (2001) · Qualitative Research · doi:10.1177/146879410100100307 · Cited by 5,506 · cited 4×
“I have taken and adapted key concepts such as the codebook (Guest et al., 2012) and thematic network analysis (Attride-Stirling, 2001) from authors on thematic analysis.”
InfluentialCollected Papers of Charles Sanders Peirce
(1935) · Nature · doi:10.1038/135131a0 · Cited by 4,601
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- Bourdieu, P. (1986). The forms of capital. In I. Szeman & T. Kaposy (Eds.), Cultural theory: An anthropology (pp. 81-93).
- Gioia, D. A., Corley, K. G., & Hamilton, A. L. (2012). Seeking qualitative rigor in inductive research: Notes on the Gioia methodology. Organisational Research Methods, 16(1), 15-31.
- Jonsen, K., Fendt, J., & Point, S. (2017). Convincing qualitative research: What constitutes persuasive writing? Organizational Research Methods, 21(1), 30-67.
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- Nowell, L. S., Norris, J. M., White, D. E., & Moules, N. J. (2017). Thematic analysis: Striving to meet the trustworthiness criteria. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16, 1-13.
- Saldaña, J. (2015). The coding manual for qualitative researchers (3 rd ed.). SAGE.
- Seidel, J., & Kelle, U. (1995). Different functions of coding in the analysis of textual data. In U. Kelle (Ed.), Computer-aided qualitative data analysis: Theory, methods and practice (pp. 52-61). SAGE.
- Timmermans, S., & Tavory, I. (2012). Theory construction in qualitative research: From grounded theory to abductive analysis. Sociological Theory, 30(3), 167-186.
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Madanipour, P., Garvis, S., Cohrssen, C., & Pendergast, D. (2025) · Frontiers in Education · doi:10.3389/feduc.2024.1488410 · Cited by 23
Krystallis, I., Kalra, T., & Locatelli, G. (2025) · International Journal of Production Economics · doi:10.1016/j.ijpe.2025.109637 · Cited by 14
“The analysis followed an abductive thematic approach (Thompson, 2022), combining deductive and inductive reasoning to explore how the Orchestrator managed governance reconfiguration.”
Xiao, Y., Xiao-hua, L., & Yao, Y. (2025) · System · doi:10.1016/j.system.2025.103790 · Cited by 20
Greenier, V., Xiao-hua, L., & Xiao, Y. (2023) · Applied Linguistics Review · doi:10.1515/applirev-2023-0085 · Cited by 15
“…and models that provide a framework for observations and interpretations of the data set (Rose et al. 2019), thus, it “ is neither data-driven nor hypothesis driven but conducts parallel and equal engagement with empirical data and extant theoretical understanding ” (Thompson 2022, p. 1411).”
Developing adaptation outcome indicators to urban heat risks
Tuomimaa, J., Käyhkö, J., Juhola, S. K., & Räsänen, A. (2023) · Climate Risk Management · doi:10.1016/j.crm.2023.100533 · Cited by 18
Scarbrough, H., Sanfilippo, K. R. M., Ziemann, A., & Stavropoulou, C. (2023) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116394 · Cited by 21
Ingersgaard, M. V., Grabowski, D., Willaing, I., & Tjørnhøj‐Thomsen, T. (2024) · SSM - Qualitative Research in Health · doi:10.1016/j.ssmqr.2023.100391 · Cited by 19
Young children’s conceptions of computing in an African setting
Oyedoyin, M. M., Sanusi, I. T., & Ayanwale, M. A. (2024) · Computer Science Education · doi:10.1080/08993408.2024.2314397 · Cited by 20
“The abductive approach, however, aims to find a middle ground between inductive and deductive approaches (Thompson, 2022).”
Can isolated microgrids be viable? A longitudinal study of long-term sustainability in rural Senegal
Etienne, E., & Robert, P. C. (2024) · Energy Research & Social Science · doi:10.1016/j.erss.2024.103476 · Cited by 15
Ecosystem approach in public management: insights from the city of Espoo
Sahamies, K., & Anttiroiko, A. (2024) · International Journal of Public Sector Management · doi:10.1108/ijpsm-06-2023-0176 · Cited by 15
Roa, O. H., Walz, Y., & Nehren, U. M. (2025) · Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change · doi:10.1007/s11027-025-10217-w · Cited by 15
“Further, we carried out a thematic analysis (Nowell et al. 2017; Thompson 2022).”
From Lomé to Samoa: partnership as a normative concept in Africa-EU postcolonial relations
Tallarita, M. C. (2025) · Journal of Contemporary African Studies · doi:10.1080/02589001.2025.2550467 · Cited by 14
“These documents, which include partnership agreements signed by the involved parties and further texts related to the positions of individual parties, were subjected to abductive (Thompson 2022) and reflexive (Joy, Braun, and Clarke 2023) thematic analysis.”
Jin, R., Le, T.-T., Gao, R., Shen, Q., & Xiao, W. (2024) · International Journal of Intercultural Relations · doi:10.1016/j.ijintrel.2024.102079 · Cited by 14
Goldshaft, B. (2024) · Professional Development in Education · doi:10.1080/19415257.2024.2441837 · Cited by 13
Sathianathan, S., Ali, A. M., & Chong, W. W. (2025) · JMIR Infodemiology · doi:10.2196/67464 · Cited by 21
Inclusive research in tourism: are we enabling or disabling people with disability?
Lu, S. E., Yang, E. C. L., Moyle, B., & Reid, S. (2025) · Tourism Geographies · doi:10.1080/14616688.2025.2546533 · Cited by 13
“…data analysis of 102 articles involved a four-stage coding process to ensure the credibility and trustworthiness of the data interpretation, an approach adapted from thompson (2022). the first stage involved the familiarisation of 102 studies by reading through each article by the first author.”
Cohn, E. G., Harrison, M., & McVilly, K. (2023) · Autism · doi:10.1177/13623613231195795 · Cited by 13
“The unearthing of themes and sub-themes in the analysis was conducted in an abductive framework approach, which was informed by multiple works, such as Thompson (2022) and Vila-Henninger et al. (2022).”
Disassembly and Reuse of Demountable Modular Building Systems
Yang, Y., Luk, C., Zheng, B., Hu, Y., & Chan, A. P.-C. (2024) · Journal of Management in Engineering · doi:10.1061/jmenea.meeng-6243 · Cited by 18
Is it real or not? construction of meaning and identity in virtual influencer marketing
Thompson, J., Igarashi, R., Krowinska, A., & Logan-McFarlane, A. (2025) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115362 · Cited by 13
“1) while future rounds sought to be more selective and remove/consolidate codes that were not central to the data or could be included under an alternative code (Thompson, 2022).”
InfluentialSelf-citationOntological Modeling of Tacit Knowledge for Automating Job Hazard Analysis in Construction
Pandithawatta, S., Rameezdeen, R., Ahn, S., Chow, C., & Gorjian, N. (2024) · Journal of Management in Engineering · doi:10.1061/jmenea.meeng-5695 · Cited by 8
Vo, K., Sarkar, M., White, P. J., & Yuriev, E. (2024) · Chemistry Education Research and Practice · doi:10.1039/d4rp00096j · Cited by 16
Mantell, R., Withall, A., Radford, K. A., Kasumovic, M. M., Monds, L. A., & Hwang, Y. I. (2023) · JMIR Serious Games · doi:10.2196/45467 · Cited by 10
“Abduction—also known as theoretical redescription—is a technique whereby empirical data are redescribed using theoretical concepts (in this case, SDT and game design research) [54,62].”
Niu, R., Hu, J., Peng, S., Cao, C. C., Liu, C., Han, S., & Guo, Y. (2025) · CHI Conference Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI EA) · doi:10.1145/3706599.3719762 · Cited by 11
“This study employed an Abductive Thematic Analysis approach inspired by Thompson [55] to analyze the design strategies of AI agents.”
Informal waste pickers in Africa: social reproduction, marginalisation and sustainability
Koroma, A., Scott, R. E., & Esson, J. (2025) · Local Environment · doi:10.1080/13549839.2025.2596724 · Cited by 11
Davidsen, E., Pico, M. L., Sandøe, P., & Lund, T. B. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1049568 · Cited by 11
Wathne, H. B., Storm, M., Morken, I. M., & Husebø, A. M. L. (2025) · Journal of Advanced Nursing · doi:10.1111/jan.16736 · Cited by 11
“However, when developing themes and an overarching concept (step 4), we used TTCCN as an interpretative theory to conceptualise the findings (Thompson 2022).”
InfluentialExploring ageing consumers’ usage of content marketing, content typology and online brand advocacy
Bubphapant, J., & Brandão, A. (2024) · EuroMed Journal of Business · doi:10.1108/emjb-10-2023-0283 · Cited by 25
Khurshid, F., Hegazi, I., O’Connor, E., Noushad, B., & Thompson, R. (2024) · Teaching and Learning in Medicine · doi:10.1080/10401334.2024.2367670 · Cited by 11
“33 Our aim was to make the process understandable for novice researchers attempting it for the first time.”
Vandenbussche, L., Edelenbos, J., & Eshuis, J. (2024) · Public Management Review · doi:10.1080/14719037.2024.2387179 · Cited by 10
“Abductive analysis conducts ‘parallel and equal engagement with empirical data and extant theoretical understanding’ (Thompson 2022, 1411).”
How Do Nurses Experience Relational Work in the Emergency Department—Qualitative Study
Gamst‐Jensen, H., Rasmussen, M. L. T., Konradsen, H., & Poulsen, I. (2024) · Journal of Emergency Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.jen.2024.07.006 · Cited by 10
Bug or feature? Institutional misalignments between construction technology and venture capital
Walzer, A., Tan, T., Graser, K., & Hall, D. M. (2024) · Construction Management and Economics · doi:10.1080/01446193.2024.2401818 · Cited by 10
“Employing a relatively novel method known as abductive thematic analysis, this study seeks to gain a richer understanding of participant perspectives while staying true to the essence of qualitative research (Thompson 2022).”
Ryan, L., O’Donoghue, G., Crotty, M., Birney, S., Heary, C., Hanlon, M. L. D., Conlan, O., & Walsh, J. C. (2024) · Obesity Science & Practice · doi:10.1002/osp4.70012 · Cited by 10
“25,27 This approach enabled the re - examination of the empirical data in relation to the existing theoretical literature while keeping the participants insights at the core of theme generation.”
Bolt, E. E. T., Ali, M. M., & Winterton, J. (2024) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117550 · Cited by 10
Markou-Pappas, N., Ragazzoni, L., Truppa, C. T., Salio, F., Barone‐Adesi, F., & Lamine, H. (2025) · Conflict and Health · doi:10.1186/s13031-025-00643-7 · Cited by 14
Wolff, E., Natakun, B., Marome, W. A., Chew, G., Tang, K. S., & Hamel, P. (2025) · Urban forestry & urban greening · doi:10.1016/j.ufug.2025.128973 · Cited by 10
Spaces for play: listening to children’s voices
Burke, L. A., Jindal‐Snape, D., Lindsay, A., Whyte, S. R., Wallace, M., Mercieca, D. P., McKenzie, M., & Keatch, B. (2024) · Education 3-13 · doi:10.1080/03004279.2024.2318254 · Cited by 9
“In this study, an abductive approach was used for data analysis: it was primarily inductive as themes emerged from the data but also deductive as there was an underpinning theory and principles that influenced data collection to some extent, and potentially, its analysis (Thompson 2022).”
Nicholas, L., Clark, S., Agius, C., & Cook, K. (2024) · NORMA · doi:10.1080/18902138.2024.2430513 · Cited by 9
“We thematically analysed the responses that practitioners charted among their clients abductively (Thompson, 2022), with our analysis partially shaped by our research on the themes, ‘common language’ (McGlashan & Krendel, 2023) and specific groups or pages identified by extant literature on the…”
Cass, M., & Prabhu, R. (2024) · Journal of Mechanical Design · doi:10.1115/1.4067343 · Cited by 9
Diversity and “Successful Aging”: Exploring Intersectional and Existential Dimensions to Aging Well
Pickard, S., Cluley, V., Sharma, S., Oli, U., Thomas-Ekweh, G., Banerjee, J., Williams, C., Conroy, S., Vanhoutte, B., & Labeit, A. M. (2024) · The Gerontologist · doi:10.1093/geront/gnaf008 · Cited by 10
Chen, A. Z., Peeks, M. D., & Kyne, S. H. (2025) · Journal of Chemical Education · doi:10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c01326 · Cited by 9
Transforming towards AI-augmented Healthcare: Experiences of physicians in Sweden
Ismail, M., Barth, H., Holmén, M., Petersson, L., & Irgang, L. (2025) · Technovation · doi:10.1016/j.technovation.2025.103333 · Cited by 10
Friedrich, L. (2025) · Governance · doi:10.1111/gove.70052 · Cited by 9
Lindsay, C., Baruffati, D., Mackenzie, M., Ellis, D. A., Major, M., O'Donnell, K., Simpson, S. A., Williamson, A. E., Duddy, C., & Wong, G. (2023) · NIHR Open Research · doi:10.3310/nihropenres.13431.1 · Cited by 12
“Coding also involves abduction, with parameters influenced by emerging theoretical understandings while those understandings themselves are shaped by the empirical data to find logical, useful and plausible solutions to the presenting problems (Thompson, 2022).”
Nihoul, J. A., Miralles, F., & Neamtu, L. (2023) · Project Leadership and Society · doi:10.1016/j.plas.2023.100106 · Cited by 12
Ray, C. D., Iannarino, N. T., Wang, N. O., Matias, B., Westerman, A. W., & Germann, J. N. (2023) · Health Communication · doi:10.1080/10410236.2023.2285558 · Cited by 9
More than preferences: exploring Chinese middle-class parents’ happiness promises in school choice
Zhong, C. (2024) · British Journal of Sociology of Education · doi:10.1080/01425692.2024.2359459 · Cited by 9
“Abductive thematic analysis was employed to investigate and identify parents’ perceptions of happiness (Tavory and Timmermans 2014 ; Thompson 2022 ).”
How do medical students' expectations shape their experiences of well‐being programmes?
Tan, E., Driessen, E. W., Frambach, J., Cleland, J., & Kearney, G. P. (2024) · Medical Education · doi:10.1111/medu.15543 · Cited by 9
“…in approaching the empirical data, helping us to abductively code key texts (e.g. institutional policies such as house system handbook for students) 33 for institutional processes and rules that influenced students' interaction with their house tutors and participation in the house system…”
Fighting fair: community perspectives on the fairness of performance enhancement in esports
Friehs, M. A., Klarkowski, M., Frommel, J., Phillips, C. J., & Mandryk, R. L. (2024) · Frontiers in Sports and Active Living · doi:10.3389/fspor.2024.1330755 · Cited by 9
“The general analysis procedure for the open questions was the same across questions and followed thematic analysis procedures (51, 52).”
Wehden, S., Garber, H., Aichinger, M., Hempel, E., Creutzig, F., & Janda, K. B. (2024) · Journal of Cleaner Production · doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.144534 · Cited by 8
Lyngby, J. G.-H., Nielsen, L. N., Ankerkilde, S., Bentzen, A. W., Bjørnvad, C. R., Lund, T. B., & Sandøe, P. (2025) · Frontiers in Veterinary Science · doi:10.3389/fvets.2024.1488917 · Cited by 8
Macbeth, J. L., & Sprake, A. (2025) · Sport Education and Society · doi:10.1080/13573322.2025.2460173 · Cited by 10
“…that could be explained by existing theoretical and conceptual lenses, whilst navigating the ‘interactions, exchanges, or contextual anomalies’ (Thompson, 2022, p. 1415) that triggered theoretical refinements; (7) finally, we engaged in a comparative analysis of how themes and codes were…”
Zhang, H., & Hsu, C. H. C. (2025) · Current Issues in Tourism · doi:10.1080/13683500.2025.2463122 · Cited by 8
Drivers and Barriers in Shaping Resilience Projects: An Investigation in the Space Economy
Paravano, A., Locatelli, G., & Trucco, P. (2025) · IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management · doi:10.1109/tem.2025.3568298 · Cited by 8
“Second, we performed an abductive thematic analysis [85].”
Tackling new research questions in energy transition: The system of provision approach
Dei, G., Mignacca, B., Locatelli, G., & Trucco, P. (2025) · Applied Energy · doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.125991 · Cited by 8
Exploring Technostress and Meta-Work: Identifying Subgroups Among Finnish Employees
Rikala, J., Heilala, V., Karhapää, A., & Hämäläinen, R. (2025) · International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1080/10447318.2025.2531276 · Cited by 11
“The analysis used abductive thematic analysis (Thompson, 2022) to reveal meta-work forms and their occurrences, followed by multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) (Beh & Lombardo, 2014; Greenacre, 1984) and agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) to group similar respondents.”
Hald, A. N., Bech, M., Enemark, U., Shaw, J., & Burau, V. (2023) · Journal of Professions and Organization · doi:10.1093/jpo/joad027 · Cited by 8
Schüttengruber, G., Olsson, M. M., Holmberg, C., Großschädl, F., Hessman, E., Sjöblom, H., & Heckemann, B. (2024) · Geriatric Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.gerinurse.2024.05.017 · Cited by 8
A qualitative exploration of 40 Hz sound and music for older adults with mild cognitive impairment
Wang, C., Li, M., Szanton, S. L., Courtney, S. M., Pantelyat, A. Y., Li, Q., Huang, J., & Li, J. (2024) · Geriatric Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.gerinurse.2024.02.005 · Cited by 7
Nigatu, A. M., Yilma, T. M., Gezie, L. D., Gebrewold, Y., Gullslett, M. K., Mengiste, S. A., & Tilahun, B. C. (2024) · International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications · doi:10.1155/2024/5578056 · Cited by 7
Këllezi, B., Wakefield, J. R. H., Bowe, M., Guxholli, A., Livingstone, A., Jetten, J., & Reicher, S. D. (2024) · European Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1002/ejsp.3124 · Cited by 8
Managers in the Era of Digital Transformation: Navigating the Dual Realities of Time
Focacci, C. N., Pichault, F., & Rondeaux, G. (2024) · New Technology Work and Employment · doi:10.1111/ntwe.12320 · Cited by 7
“In the context of grounded theory research, the abductive method is instrumental in developing theories that emerge from empirical data rather than merely testing pre ‐ existing hypotheses (Thompson 2022).”
Cultivating Public Value and Accountability Beyond NPM: A Non‐Western Perspective
Ang, S. Y., & Wickramasinghe, D. (2024) · Financial Accountability and Management · doi:10.1111/faam.12426 · Cited by 10
Arvendell, M., Phillips, L., Delilovic, S., Enelius, M. B., Olsson, K., Bolejko, A., Akre, O., Carlsson, S., Richter, A., & Lantz, A. W. (2024) · European Urology Open Science · doi:10.1016/j.euros.2024.12.007 · Cited by 6
Bricolage and Entrepreneurial Branding in Finnish Tourism Business SMEs
Suomi, K., & Aro, K. (2025) · Corporate Reputation Review · doi:10.1057/s41299-024-00215-0 · Cited by 7
“Thereafter, the codes were arranged to themes by searching for relationships between different codes and sorting them based on their ability to collectively explain the phenomenon behind the data, in which prior literature allowed us to form an understanding about (Thompson 2022).”
Influential
Metadata
- Authors
- Thompson, J.
- Affiliations
- Edinburgh Napier University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Thompson, Jamie
- ORCID
- Thompson, Jamie
- Venue
- The Qualitative Report
- Publisher
- Nova Southeastern University
- Published
- 2022-05-20
- ISSN
- 1052-0147 (ISSN-L)
- 2160-3715
- OpenAlex
- W4280585239
- Semantic Scholar
- 2765f40bd6e8e0d8bc9c1eddbd129fba2be5cbad
- Cited by
- 493
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 131 · 2025: 174 · 2024: 124 · 2023: 58 · 2022: 6
- FWCI
- 195.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc-sa
- Locations
- The Qualitative Report (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
- Edinburgh Napier Research Repository (Edinburgh Napier University) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- NSUWorks (Nova Southeastern University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
- Research Output (Edinburgh Napier University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Qualitative Research Methods and Applications
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Sociology and Education Studies
- Keywords
- abductive research, thematic analysis, qualitative data analysis, scientific rigor, research methodology
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