Applying thematic analysis theory to practice: A researcher’s experience
Abstract
This article describes an experience of thematic analysis. In order to answer the question 'What does analysis look like in practice?' it describes in brief how the methodology of grounded theory, the epistemology of social constructionism, and the theoretical stance of symbolic interactionism inform analysis. Additionally, analysis is examined by evidencing the systematic processes--here termed organising, coding, writing, theorising, and reading--that led the researcher to develop a final thematic schema.
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Thematic analysis is one of the most used but often poorly defined approaches in the qualitative research community.
“Thematic analysis is one of the most used but often poorly defined approaches in the qualitative research community.”
From Conducting Thematic Analysis with Qualitative Data (2021) · cites this paper as Tuckett, 2005
Scholars have reached limited agreement about how thematic analysis should be performed.
“Scholars have reached limited agreement about how thematic analysis should be performed (Attride-Stirling, 2001; Boyatzis, 1998; Tuckett, 2005).”
From Conducting Thematic Analysis with Qualitative Data (2021) · cites this paper as Tuckett, 2005
Cites
The social construction of reality : a treatise in the sociology of knowledge
Simpson, G., Berger, P. L., & Luckmann, T. (1967) · American Sociological Review · doi:10.2307/2091739 · Cited by 16,462 · see citing works
‘Discovering’ chronic illness: Using grounded theory
Charmaz, K. (1990) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/0277-9536(90)90256-r · Cited by 1,648 · see citing works
Glaser, B. G. (1999) · Qualitative Health Research · doi:10.1177/104973299129122199 · Cited by 397 · cited 2× · see citing works
“However, because of purposeful (theoretical) sampling limitations (see Tuckett, 2004b), the research cannot claim to be ‘pure’ grounded theory (Glaser, 1999).”
BackgroundMethodTuckett, A. G. (2004) · Nurse Researcher · doi:10.7748/nr2004.07.12.1.47.c5930 · Cited by 342 · see citing works
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Using thematic analysis in psychology
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006) · Qualitative Research in Psychology · doi:10.1191/1478088706qp063oa · Cited by 194,414 · see citing works
S., N. L. (2017) · doi:10.1177/1609406917733847 · Cited by 14,051 · see citing works
Thematic analysis of qualitative data: AMEE Guide No. 131
Kiger, M. E., & Varpio, L. (2020) · Medical Teacher · doi:10.1080/0142159x.2020.1755030 · Cited by 3,787 · see citing works
A Step-by-Step Process of Thematic Analysis to Develop a Conceptual Model in Qualitative Research
Naeem, M., Ozuem, W., Howell, K., & Ranfagni, S. (2023) · International Journal of Qualitative Methods · doi:10.1177/16094069231205789 · Cited by 2,243 · see citing works
“To properly document an interview, a high-quality audio recording and, preferably, a word-for-word transcription are required; the researcher could also manually highlight patterns in the data (Tuckett, 2005) with the intention to fi nd the most relevant statements.”
MethodXu, W., & Zammit, K. (2020) · International Journal of Qualitative Methods · doi:10.1177/1609406920918810 · Cited by 634 · see citing works
“However, a lack of description about the process and details of analysis often leads the TA report readers to wonder how exactly qualitative information is systematically coded and how themes emerge from the data (Tuckett, 2005).”
BackgroundMethodResultInfluentialConducting Thematic Analysis with Qualitative Data
Lochmiller, C. (2021) · The Qualitative Report · doi:10.46743/2160-3715/2021.5008 · Cited by 420 · see citing works
Reflexive Thematic Analysis for Applied Qualitative Health Research
Campbell, K., Orr, E., Durepos, P., Nguyen, L., Li, L., Whitmore, C., Gehrke, P., Graham, L., & Jack, S. (2021) · The Qualitative Report · doi:10.46743/2160-3715/2021.5010 · Cited by 410 · see citing works
“Broadly, thematic analysis is an approach to qualitative data analysis that results in the development of themes reflective of the data (Braun & Clarke, 2006; Clarke et al., 2019; Gerritse et al., 2018; Guest et al., 2011; Roberts et al., 2019; Tuckett, 2005; Vaismoradi et al., 2013).”
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Integrating security controls in DevSecOps: Challenges, solutions, and future research directions
Sinan, M., Shahin, M., & Gondal, I. (2025) · Journal of Software: Evolution and Process · doi:10.1002/smr.70029 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Allard, C., Thirlwall, K., Cooper, P., Brown, A., O’Brien, D., & Creswell, C. (2022) · Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders · doi:10.1177/10634266211028199 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
- Authors
- Tuckett, A. G.
- Affiliations
- Queensland University of Technology (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Tuckett, Anthony G.
- ORCID
- Tuckett, Anthony G.
- Venue
- Contemporary Nurse
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2005-08
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 75-87
- ISSN
- 1037-6178 (ISSN-L)
- 1839-3535
- OpenAlex
- W2093790434
- Cited by
- 840
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 41 · 2025: 40 · 2024: 48 · 2023: 70 · 2022: 67 · 2021: 86 · 2020: 63 · 2019: 60 · 2018: 70 · 2017: 60 · 2016: 43 · 2015: 51 · 2014: 42 · 2013: 34 · 2012: 29
- FWCI
- 6.38
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Contemporary Nurse (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Qualitative Research Methods and Applications
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics
- Social Sciences › Education › Educational Research and Analysis
- Keywords
- thematic analysis, grounded theory, social constructionism, symbolic interactionism, qualitative research methodology, coding, theorizing, nursing research
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Data Collection, Data Interpretation, Statistical, Humans, Nurse-Patient Relations, Nursing Theory, Philosophy, Nursing, Research Design, Review Literature as Topic, Symbolism, Truth Disclosure, Writing, Nursing Methodology Research, Models, Nursing, Knowledge, Narration, Qualitative Research
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