All subjects · Psychology · WPS02 Biological Psychology, Learning Theories and Development

Thematic analysis of qualitative data

Edexcel IAL Psychology · WPS02 Biological Psychology, Learning Theories and Development

Thematic analysis finds and reports patterns of meaning (themes) in qualitative data such as interview transcripts, diaries or observation notes. It is part of the Topic D practical (spec 4.2.6).

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What thematic analysis is

Qualitative data are words, not numbers. Thematic analysis keeps the data qualitative: instead of counting, the researcher identifies themes, ideas that recur and capture something important about the data.

Example: notes from observing drivers at a junction might show themes such as 'impatience', 'courtesy to pedestrians' and 'distraction by phones'.

The process

1. Transcribe the data if needed (e.g. interviews, or detailed observation notes).

2. Read and re-read the data to become familiar with it.

3. Code the data: label interesting features with short codes.

4. Search for themes: group codes into broader themes.

5. Review and refine themes so they fit the data and are distinct; name them.

6. Report the themes, supporting each with quotes or examples from the data, and relate them to theory.

Evaluation

Worked example

A researcher has written notes describing 30 people's behaviour while queuing. Explain how they would carry out a thematic analysis.

  1. Read the notes several times to become familiar with them.
  2. Code interesting features, e.g. 'checks watch', 'sighs', 'chats to stranger'.
  3. Group codes into themes such as 'impatience' and 'sociability', then refine and name them.
  4. Report each theme with examples from the notes.

Answer: Familiarise, code, search for and refine themes, then report with examples.

Key idea: Thematic analysis: familiarise, code, find themes, review, name, report with quotes. Keeps meaning but is subjective; a second analyst helps.

Check yourself

  1. In thematic analysis, a theme is
    • a recurring pattern of meaning in the data
    • a number in a frequency table
    • a critical value
    • a type of brain scan
    Show answer

    a recurring pattern of meaning in the data. Themes capture repeated ideas.

  2. What should a researcher do before coding?
    • Calculate chi-squared
    • Choose a critical value
    • Read and re-read the data to become familiar with it
    • Delete unusual comments
    Show answer

    Read and re-read the data to become familiar with it. Familiarisation comes first.

  3. Thematic analysis is used on which type of data?
    • Qualitative data such as transcripts
    • Reaction times
    • Brain glucose levels
    • Spearman's rho values
    Show answer

    Qualitative data such as transcripts. It analyses words and descriptions.

  4. How should themes be supported in the report?
    • With a correlation coefficient only
    • With the researcher's opinion only
    • With a scatter diagram
    • With quotes or examples from the data
    Show answer

    With quotes or examples from the data. Evidence from the data gives credibility.

  5. Which step improves the objectivity of a thematic analysis?
    • Using only one researcher
    • A second researcher independently identifies themes and they are compared
    • Changing themes to match the hypothesis
    • Ignoring data that do not fit
    Show answer

    A second researcher independently identifies themes and they are compared. Comparing analysts reduces individual bias.

  6. Explain one weakness of thematic analysis.
    Show answer

    It is subjective, because the researcher decides what the themes are, so different researchers might identify different themes and the analysis may be biased and hard to replicate.. Subjectivity, time or replication.

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Last updated 8 November 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.