Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide

Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide is written by Virginia Braun and Victoria Clarke, who developed and adapted the approach to thematic analysis (TA) presented in this book. TA is described as one of the most widely used qualitative data analytic techniques in psychology and across the social and health sciences.

Building on Braun and Clarke’s 2006 paper that first set out their approach, this guide positions itself as a definitive resource for understanding and carrying out TA. It addresses common questions about TA alongside developments in the field, and offers an accessible, practical discussion of doing TA within the broader landscape of qualitative research.

Key details

• Authors: Virginia Braun and Victoria Clarke
• Focuses on thematic analysis (TA) as a qualitative data analytic technique
• Covers contextualising TA, developing themes, writing TA reports and reflexive TA
• Draws on the authors’ 2006 paper outlining their approach to TA
• Virginia Braun is Professor, School of Psychology, The University of Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand
• Victoria Clarke is Associate Professor in Qualitative and Critical Psychology, Department of Social Sciences, University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol

Synopsis

This book presents a practical guide to thematic analysis (TA) developed and adapted by its authors. It covers how TA is contextualised, how themes are developed, and how TA reports are written, including discussion of reflexive TA. It also responds to common questions and considers developments in the field, situating TA within a clear understanding of qualitative research more widely.