|
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
|
Field Methods, Vol. 15, No. 1,
85-109 (2003)
DOI: 10.1177/1525822X02239569
© 2003 SAGE Publications
Techniques to Identify Themes
Gery W. Ryan
RAND Health
H. Russell Bernard
University of Florida
Theme identification is one of the most fundamental tasks in qualitative research. It also is one of the most mysterious. Explicit descriptions of theme discovery are rarely found in articles and reports, and when they are, they are often relegated to appendices or footnotes. Techniques are shared among small groups of social scientists, but sharing is impeded by disciplinary or epistemological boundaries. The techniques described here are drawn from across epistemological and disciplinary boundaries. They include both observational and manipulative techniques and range from quick word counts to laborious, in-depth, line-by-line scrutiny. Techniques are compared on six dimensions: (1) appropriateness for data types, (2) required labor, (3) required expertise, (4) stage of analysis, (5) number and types of themes to be generated, and (6) issues of reliability and validity.
Key Words: theme identification • qualitative analysis • text analysis • open coding • qualitative research methods
 CiteULike  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
M. Markovic, L. Manderson, and N. Warren
Endurance and contest: women's narratives of endometriosis
Health (London) ,
July 1, 2008;
12(3):
349 - 367.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Pettersson, A. Persson, and A. W. Berggren
Changing Gender Relations: Women Officers' Experiences in the Swedish Armed Forces
Economic and Industrial Democracy,
May 1, 2008;
29(2):
192 - 216.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Manderson, N. Warren, and M. Markovic
Circuit Breaking: Pathways of Treatment Seeking for Women With Endometriosis in Australia
Qual Health Res,
April 1, 2008;
18(4):
522 - 534.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. M. Judge, S. E. Estroff, D. O. Perkins, and D. L. Penn
Recognizing and Responding to Early Psychosis: A Qualitative Analysis of Individual Narratives
Psychiatr Serv,
January 1, 2008;
59(1):
96 - 99.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. Wray, M. Markovic, and L. Manderson
"Researcher Saturation": The Impact of Data Triangulation and Intensive-Research Practices on the Researcher and Qualitative Research Process
Qual Health Res,
December 1, 2007;
17(10):
1392 - 1402.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Cunningham, J. A. Sirey, and M. L. Bruce
Matching Services to Patients' Beliefs About Depression in Dublin, Ireland
Psychiatr Serv,
May 1, 2007;
58(5):
696 - 699.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Bromley
Clinicians' Concepts of the Cognitive Deficits of Schizophrenia
Schizophr Bull,
May 1, 2007;
33(3):
648 - 651.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. P. Eisenman, K. M. Cordasco, S. Asch, J. F. Golden, and D. Glik
Disaster Planning and Risk Communication With Vulnerable Communities: Lessons From Hurricane Katrina
Am J Public Health,
April 1, 2007;
97(Supplement_1):
S109 - S115.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Steger
The Stories Metaphors Tell: Metaphors as a Tool to Decipher Tacit Aspects in Narratives
Field Methods,
February 1, 2007;
19(1):
3 - 23.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. K. Koh, M. D. Jacobson, A. M. Lyddy, K. J. O'Connor, S. M. Fitzpatrick, M. Krakow, C. M. Judge, H. R. Alpert, and R. S. Luskin
A Statewide Public Health Approach to Improving Organ Donation: The Massachusetts Organ Donation Initiative
Am J Public Health,
January 1, 2007;
97(1):
30 - 36.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Markovic
Analyzing Qualitative Data: Health Care Experiences of Women with Gynecological Cancer
Field Methods,
November 1, 2006;
18(4):
413 - 429.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Assunta and S. Chapman
Health treaty dilution: a case study of Japan's influence on the language of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
J. Epidemiol. Community Health,
September 1, 2006;
60(9):
751 - 756.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Hurst and P. Nader
Building community involvement in cross-cultural Indigenous health programs
Int. J. Qual. Health Care,
August 1, 2006;
18(4):
294 - 298.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. J. Sobo, B. Eng, and N. Kassity-Krich
Canine Visitation (Pet) Therapy: Pilot Data on Decreases in Child Pain Perception
J Holist Nurs,
March 1, 2006;
24(1):
51 - 57.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. Guest, A. Bunce, and L. Johnson
How Many Interviews Are Enough?: An Experiment with Data Saturation and Variability
Field Methods,
February 1, 2006;
18(1):
59 - 82.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I. Winkler
Network Governance Between Individual and Collective Goals: Qualitative Evidence from Six Networks
Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies,
January 1, 2006;
12(3):
119 - 134.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. S. Tucker, S. L. Wenzel, J. B. Straus, G. W. Ryan, and D. Golinelli
Experiencing Interpersonal Violence: Perspectives of Sexually Active, Substance-Using Women Living in Shelters and Low-Income Housing
Violence Against Women,
October 1, 2005;
11(10):
1319 - 1340.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. A. Lorenz, G. W. Ryan, S. C. Morton, K. S. Chan, S. Wang, and P. G. Shekelle
A qualitative examination of primary care providers' and physician managers' uses and views of research evidence
Int. J. Qual. Health Care,
October 1, 2005;
17(5):
409 - 414.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. J. Hruschka, D. Schwartz, D. C. St.John, E. Picone-Decaro, R. A. Jenkins, and J. W. Carey
Reliability in Coding Open-Ended Data: Lessons Learned from HIV Behavioral Research
Field Methods,
August 1, 2004;
16(3):
307 - 331.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
