How to Conduct Thematic Analysis

Overview:

Thematic analysis is useful for revealing patterns and themes in your work and for gaining detailed understanding of social phenomena and individual experiences, perceptions and behaviours. However, it is often seen as a mysterious and complex stage of the research process. Qualitative researchers can be criticised for not always making their techniques of analysis transparent when they write up their research findings. There are also challenges in terms of how researchers conduct analysis and the steps that they need to follow.

This popular live online course provides you with skills on how to manually conduct thematic analysis. While providing a brief overview of different thematic approaches, the focus of the day will be on Braun and Clarke's 'reflexive thematic analysis'. Through a practical exercise in which we analyse qualitative interview data, you will gain experience of conducting a thematic analysis which includes coding and moving to themes.

We cover:

- Principles of qualitative data analysis

- Different types of thematic analysis

- Braun and Clarke's 6 steps for 'reflexive thematic analysis'

- Organising your data, i.e. conceptualising, coding and categorising

- Selective and complete coding

- Latent and semantic coding

- Generating themes and a thematic map

- Examples of thematic analysis

- Practical activities: coding and theme creation

- Ensuring rigour and reflexivity in our analysis

Who should attend?

This course will be useful for researchers who are new to thematic analysis or who wish to brush up on their qualitative analysis skills. This includes doctoral students and academics. Researchers using qualitative methods in government, policy, consultancy, social research organisations and charities will also find this training useful.

Please note: this is an interactive live course with presentation, group activities, group discussions, and opportunities to ask questions. It is helpful if you are prepared to participate and have use of camera and mic on Zoom.

What is included?

- 5 hours of live training on Zoom (inclusive of breaks) with Dr Karen Lumsden who has over 20 years experience in qualitative research and analysis, and in the design and delivery of qualitative research programmes, courses and workshops.

- Group discussions, practical coding exercise, and opportunities to ask the trainer questions.

- Access to resources including, for example: agenda, slides, resource list, and examples.

- Recording of the presentation sections of the day (accessible for 30 days post course date).

- Certificate of completion

Trainer biography

Dr Karen Lumsden is a qualitative trainer, consultant, and coach. She has held a number of academic posts including Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Aberdeen, Associate Professor in Criminology at Leicester University, and Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham. Over the years she has been involved in a number of research projects and evaluations in social sciences, policing and health, for a range of partners and clients.

She has over 20 years experience delivering qualitative methods courses and training to academics, PhD students, social researchers, and practitioners. This includes courses at the Universities of Aberdeen, Glasgow, Essex, Auckland, Kingston, via the Social Research Association and the European Consortium for Political Research, and also for government departments, NHS, charities, police organisations, social research and market research organisations. She has written and edited a number of books and journal articles on qualitative methods including Crafting Autoethnography (Routledge, 2023) and Reflexivity: Theory, Method, Practice (2019). She was on the Editorial Board of the journal Qualitative Research until 2026.

For more info visit www.qualitativetraining.com or connect on LinkedIn here.

Bookings:

Bookings for this course should be made via Eventbrite. If your organisation requires payment via invoice, please contact me directly to check if this will be possible. I only accept invoice payment when the payment terms are confirmed in writing prior to event date. Email: karen@qualitativetraining.com

Booking and refund policy:

There is a 14 day 'cooling off' period from the date of booking on this course (unless it is less than 7 days before the event date). The refund policy is 100% refund up to 7 days prior to the course date. Less than 7 days before the course date, the entire fee is payable. Please note that in all cases, the Eventbrite ticket fee is non-refundable.

If the course is fully booked and has a waiting list then transfer to another course or future course date might be possible, however this is at the discretion of the trainer. You can transfer your booking to another person in your organisation.

Please note that Dr Karen Lumsden delivers a range of courses for other training providers in addition to these Qualitative Training courses. She takes no responsibility or liability for individuals booking on similar courses or training with other providers which may contain similar or the same course content. Refunds will not be given under these circumstances once the training has been partly/fully consumed.