Thematic Analysis/Interpretive Thematic Analysis

This entry discusses the common interpretive data analytic process known as thematic analysis, which involves immersing oneself in the data in order to identify common ideas or themes that emerge based on the phenomenon under investigation and that resonate with the research question(s) posed in the study. Subsequently, it discusses different kinds of thematic analysis, including basic thematic analysis (emic, etic, and in vivo coding and coding processes), grounded theory and the constant comparative method, the Owen method, qualitative data analysis, narrative analysis, discourse analysis, and content analysis. The entry ends with a discussion of analytic processes related to thematic analysis and tools for helping the researcher conduct thematic analysis.