Sample Essay – Thematic analysis
Regarding varying ontological and epistemological positions in psychology, thematic analysis has long been used in data analysis that seeks to establish patterns or themes in any set of data (Boyatzis, 1998, p. 23). Thematic analysis establishes recurrent patterns and probably codes them for easier referencing. In analyzing the data in this research, clusters of linked responses were created regarding similarities detected from what they conveyed.
It was worth using this method of data analysis since I had no prior expertise or knowledge in the field, a problem comfortably avoided by coding and comparing to come up with results that could be interpreted.
A comparison of statements given by respondents was used to detect the most elaborate trends in the data. This led to a proper analysis of issues surrounding ex-offenders’ self-perception. It also clearly found how this could affect their chances of securing lucrative jobs.
Color coding was subsequently used to identify different themes, thus facilitating analysis. ‘Color coding leads to the creation of categories whereas relational coding relates the categories to each other, thus ensuring patterns or themes in the data are identified and interpreted’ (Ezzy, 2002, p. 26).
Thematic analysis is not statistically generalizable; therefore, a thorough analysis was possible, leading to a better interpretation of results.
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