Show Notes
Welcome to another episode of The Words Matter Podcast.
I want to give a huge thanks to the people that support the show via
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So, in we’re into the fourth episode of the Qualitative Research Series, and today I’m with Dr Victoria Clarke about thematic analysis.
Together with her long-time co-author and collaborator Prof. Virginia Braun, Victoria has been central in developing, explicating and disseminating qualitative research methods, in particular thematic analysis.
The immense impact that Victoria and Virginia have had on qualitative methodological scholarship and practice is evidenced by the fact that their original 2006 paper on TA has received over 100,000 google scholar citations. Truly incredible.
So in this episode we speak about:
- The history of Thematic analysis (TA).
- TA as being a ‘method-ish’ meaning it sits between both method and methodology. For example, it has a defined set of methods, but also has depth in how these methods are conceptualised and operationalised, including the research values and reflexivity to use them; meaning that that TA also has characteristics of a methodology.
- We talk about TA’s emergence as an immensely popular qualitative research approach.
- We talk about that as TA isn’t welded to a particular theory or onto-epistemological perspective, that this is in fact a feature which offers researchers theoretical flexibility and utility rather than a bug which would otherwise limit or bog down those wanting to embark on qualitative inquiry.
- We talk about reflexivity and how this value is nurtured within reflexive TA.
- We talk about some of the main criticisms and misconceptions of TA.
- We talk about the annoying notion of data saturation, and it’s links to positivism, and how to respond to peer-reviewers’ equally annoying requests to demonstrate the definite, final and ultimate position of saturation (see Victoria and Virginia's paper on data saturation here).
- We talk about presenting participants’ demographic information as a way to help readers of qualitative research to locate the findings within their own realities and assess the study’s transferability (see papers by Janice Morse here and here).
- Finally, Victoria shares her thoughts on post-qualitative research, which amongst other things, rejects systematic and somewhat repeatable qualitative methods, such as those that sit with TA. And to give you a heads up, that in the penultimate episode in this series, I’ll be speaking with Dr Jenny Setchell about post qualitative research.
So this was just another incredibly enjoyable conversation. Victoria really puts voice, passion, and argument behind reflexive TA, which I think has at times been unfairly portrayed as ‘atheoretical’ by methodological purists.
As Victoria and Virgina make clear in their paper
'Can I use TA? Should I use TA? Should I not use TA? the pursuit of the perfect qualitative approaches may be seen as a ‘hallowed methods quest’. The broad church of qualitative research calls for methods and methodological pluralism to suit the different questions, contexts, and resources that qualitative researchers have.
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What is The Words Matter Podcast with Oliver Thomson?
The Words Matter Podcast brings you insights, reflections and conversations focused on the latest evidence, theory, philosophy and practice of communication-focused healthcare.
Find out about the more tacit, 'softer' and personal side of clinical practice such as the role of philosophy, beliefs, behaviours, developing therapeutic relationships or the purposeful use of language with people experiencing pain from expert academics, clinicians and researchers from across the world and spanning the musculoskeletal disciplines. This podcast will help you reflect on your own current practice and inform and stimulate you to consider new ways of approaching your practice and patients, to create a better clinical experience and outcomes in people with musculoskeletal pain.
Hosted by Dr Oliver Thomson PhD, an osteopath and Associate Professor who is passionate about researching and educating clinicians on a revised narrative, communication and biopsychosocial approach to musculoskeletal therapy. If you like the podcast, subscribe and check out the online learning and resources at www.wordsmatter-education.com.
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