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Qualitative research is becoming recognised and valued in recent times. As it is gaining fame, it is imperative that it should be analysed in the same rigorous way to yield meaningful conclusions. Thematic analysis is the one method which is commonly used to analyse the data produced by qualitative research. Although there are many other methods like content analysis and grounded theory, this method has proven to be a good one. It does not mean that this method is perfect. Thematic analysis has its own limitations (disadvantages) and advantages. This article is about exploring the advantages and disadvantages of using thematic analysis. It will answer, “Is the use of this analysis technique trustworthy or not?” However, before that, let’s explain this analysis.
What Does It Mean By Thematic Analysis?
Thematic analysis is a technique used mostly to explore and analyse the research data. This useful analysis method is mostly employed in qualitative research data, where there are no numbers, and the researcher has to deal with expressions and words. By using this method, the researcher tries to find the patterns and themes present in the data. The qualitative data is analysed by developing themes in two manners. One is inductive, and the other is deductive.
Advantages Of Using Thematic Analysis
After reading the information above, you have an idea that this analysis method is an important one. But the main topic of today’s discussion is the pros and cons of this analysis method. So, let’s start by describing the positive aspects of this method first. Hence, a brief description of the main pros is as follows:
1. Analysis Through Different Theories
The biggest advantage of this analysis is that you do not need to follow a supervised way. There are no hard and fast theories to follow when conducting this analysis. All you need to do is the identification of the theory relevant to your research and apply it to determine the themes and patterns present. This flexibility in the use of theories yields correct conclusions.
2. Analysis Of Big Texts
Another potential benefit of using this analysis method is that you can analyse big texts or large chunks of information. Sometimes, it is impossible to read and analyse a text line by line. In such a situation, this analysis method helps you a lot in finding the themes and patterns. It helps you analyse the gist of the text, which is more important instead of lines.
3. Allows For Greater Flexibility
The thematic analysis of qualitative data allows for greater flexibility. As a researcher, you can make changes in the analysis design or approach at any stage of the analysis. As this analysis technique is not based on a theory or a set law, you do not have to follow a prescription. You can develop your own prescription by looking at the needs of the data.
4. Answers Research Questions Effectively
Being a subjective approach to the research problem, this analysis technique has the ability to answer each research question of your research study. The reason is that in a subjective approach, each expression or word has a meaning. The personal experiences of the research participants also have a meaning. So, this method provides a deeper understanding of the topic.
5. Includes Both Inductive And Deductive Approaches
Lastly, another great advantage of using this method is that it uses both inductive and deductive approaches to study the problem. The inductive approach involves studying the individual experience-based points. On the other hand, the deductive approach is based on a set approach to research. Hence, this point makes this method a useful one.
Also Read: Semiotic Analysis – Definition, Examples And Uses In Phd Thesis
Disadvantages Of Using Thematic Analysis
Not every analysis method is perfect enough to only have advantages. Like all other analysis methods, thematic analysis also has its disadvantages. As per the Affordable dissertation UK, the disadvantages of this analysis method are less in number than the advantages. However, a brief description of the common ones is as follows:
1. A Phrase-Based Analytical Approach
The first disadvantage of this analysis approach is that it is phrase-based. It means that it requires you to analyse the text phrase by phrase or line by line. In research, sometimes, the phrase does not depict the meaning correctly. So, being a phrase-based approach, it does not have the ability to catch the meaning of the phrase correctly and 100% right.
2. Too Much Generic Information
This analysis method is okay to use for thesis at lower levels of studies like undergraduate and sometimes postgrad. For PhD level thesis, it is not recommended at all. The reason is that the information it gives is too generic. The generic information does not let the researcher go deep into the research and extract the real meaning. Thus, it reduces the efficiency of a PhD thesis.
3. Takes Too Much Time
Time is crucial for any research project. You have to complete your analysis on time and document the results on time to submit the dissertation. But thematic analysis method is not much quicker. Being a phrase-based analytical approach, it takes a lot of time to study each line and extract its real meaning. This difficulty becomes more evident in the case of unstructured interviews where there is no structure to follow.
4. Researcher’s Bias
Bias is a disproportionate inclination towards something. The researcher’s bias toward the answers of the participants is the main disadvantage of using thematic analysis. Based on his understanding, the researcher can infer whatever meaning he wants. So, there is a strong possibility that the personal beliefs and perceptions of the author affect the analysis.
Conclusion
Conclusively, thematic analysis is a useful method to analyse qualitative data and draw meaningful conclusions from it. It has its own advantages, i.e., flexibility and usefulness for large amounts of data. However, the disadvantages are also there, i.e., a phrase-based approach and the researcher’s bias. Overall, this analysis method is an effective one to analyse if the researcher remains objective throughout the analysis.
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