Stage 5 · Guided analysisTutorial 21 of 21 · 8 minutes · Written

Refine, define and name themes in guided analysis

Phase 5 gives each theme a name, a central organising concept and a definition, sets the order of your write up and confirms each theme.

Open the live demoDownload the template
  • What you needReviewed candidate themes in guided analysis.
  • How longAbout eight minutes.
  • At the endNamed, defined themes in the order your write up will follow, with notes and a decision log for your methods appendix.

Step by step

The same steps as the video, written out so you can follow at your own pace.

Steps
  1. Set the narrative order
  2. Name and define each theme
  3. Choose the quotes you will use
  4. Confirm the theme
  5. Keep your notes and decision log

Set the narrative order

Drag the themes into the order your write up will follow. Each keeps its colour wherever it sits.

Name and define each theme

Select a theme. Write a concise name that says what it means, a one sentence central organising concept, a definition of its scope, focus and story, and what it includes and excludes.

Choose the quotes you will use

Star the quotes you will use and rate how well each illustrates the theme. The verbatim quote is never edited; presentation wording goes in the refined quote beneath it.

Confirm the theme

Confirm theme writes the name to the theme column when you export. You can still edit everything, and go back to draft or to Phase 4 at any time.

Tip: You can move between Phases 3, 4 and 5 in either direction, because the phases are recursive. Phase 6 opens Present and Export.

Keep your notes and decision log

Reflexive notes and the decision log sit at the foot of the left panel. The log records each change with quote IDs only. Both travel with Save progress and export, for your methods appendix.

Your path

Every tutorial in order. This one is marked, and the ones you finish fill in.

  1. Getting started

    From the template or an NVivo project to your first map, and saving it as files you keep.

    0 of 3 done
    1. Load your first fileMake a copy of the template, code a few rows, and open them in the viewer to see your first map.Getting started10 minutesOpen the tutorial
    2. Save your progress and carry on laterThemescape keeps no copy of your project. Save your work as files on your computer and load them next time.Getting started5 minutesOpen the tutorial
    3. Import a project from NVivo, MAXQDA or ATLAS.tiExport your NVivo, MAXQDA or ATLAS.ti project in the REFI-QDA format and import it, so your coding opens as a map without retyping.Getting started8 minutesOpen the tutorial

  2. Exploring

    Reading the map in its three views, opening themes in the reader and searching your project.

    0 of 3 done
    1. Move between the three viewsThe node network, the hierarchy and the file tree show the same coding. Learn what each one shows and when to reach for it.Exploring6 minutesOpen the tutorial
    2. Read a theme's definition and quotesSelect any theme or code to read its working definition, the participants behind it and its quotes, without leaving the map.Exploring5 minutesOpen the tutorial
    3. Search across codes, themes and quotesFind the theme, code or line of quote text you remember, and go straight to it on the map.Exploring4 minutesOpen the tutorial

  3. Refining

    Definitions, favourite quotes and connections in Work mode, and restructuring themes in the spreadsheet.

    0 of 7 done
    1. Edit definitions and favourite quotes in Work modeRewrite working definitions beside the quotes they account for, star your strongest evidence, and save the changes as files.Refining8 minutesOpen the tutorial
    2. Record connections between themesDraw the links you see between themes, codes and sub-codes, each marked Empirical or Theoretical, with a note on why.Refining7 minutesOpen the tutorial
    3. Merge, split and rename themesRestructure your analysis in the spreadsheet, where the coding lives, then load the files again to see the new shape.Refining8 minutesOpen the tutorial
    4. Arrange the map with Custom placementPut themes and codes where they make sense to you, in each view, and keep the arrangement in your layout file.Refining5 minutesOpen the tutorial
    5. Load a published model and check the mappingMap your coded data into a published model or framework, and check how it maps before you open the model.Refining8 minutesOpen the tutorial
    6. Change relationships and keep a reflexive logIn Model mode's Work mode, add relationships found in your data, adjust the published ones, and record why in the reflexive log.Refining8 minutesOpen the tutorial
    7. Try arrangements of a modelMove a model's top level parts to new rows and columns, save the arrangement under a name, and compare it with others.Refining5 minutesOpen the tutorial

  4. Presenting

    Present mode, figures from Build mode and taking your changes back to the spreadsheet.

    0 of 5 done
    1. Present to a supervisor or a panelHide the tools and walk through your themes, bringing your favourite quotes forward as you talk.Presenting5 minutesOpen the tutorial
    2. Make a figure in Build modeTurn a figure style into a finished figure, set its colours and export it for a thesis, article or poster. Build mode is in beta.Presenting10 minutesOpen the tutorial
    3. Bring your changes back into your spreadsheetTake the definitions, favourites and connections you refined in Themescape back into your coding workbook, in the same format.Presenting6 minutesOpen the tutorial
    4. Choose a starting layout and arrange a figureStart a Build mode figure from one of the figure styles, then move, shape, align and group its parts. Build mode is in beta.Presenting8 minutesOpen the tutorial
    5. Undo, Reset, Fit and Show hidden in Build modeHide what a figure does not need, undo a step, start again from the starting layout, and fit the figure to the screen.Presenting5 minutesOpen the tutorial

  5. Guided analysis

    For Student plans: working through Braun and Clarke's Phases 3 to 5 in Themescape for students.

    0 of 3 done
    1. Start guided analysis, and come backOn a Student plan, take your project into guided analysis in Themescape for students, save your progress, and return to the main viewer.Guided analysis5 minutesOpen the tutorial
    2. Generate and review themes in guided analysisPhase 3 sorts your codes into piles of candidate themes. Phase 4 reviews each candidate against its quotes and the whole dataset.Guided analysis10 minutesOpen the tutorial
    3. Refine, define and name themes in guided analysisPhase 5 gives each theme a name, a central organising concept and a definition, sets the order of your write up and confirms each theme.Guided analysis8 minutesOpen the tutorial

Common questions

Short answers to what researchers ask most. The FAQ page has the rest.

See all questions

Can I edit a definition in Themescape?

Yes, in Work mode. Select a theme or code, read its definition against its quotes in the reader, and rewrite it. Save your progress to keep the new wording, which goes into your Framework file.

Are my original quotes ever changed?

No. Verbatim quotes are never altered, with a separate refined column for presentation wording. The quote column holds each extract exactly as transcribed, and Themescape never edits it, in the viewer or in any export. Tidied wording goes in the refined_quote column, which the viewer shows where you have it.

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