How CODES become THEMES - Questions that YOU should ask yourself when developing themes

The video will explain how to develop themes from codes, specifically focusing on questions to ask when struggling with this process. This is a common problem in qualitative research. The discussion will cover how to decide what constitutes a theme and how to name them. It clarifies that this video will not cover coding or software usage, but rather the decision-making process of turning codes into themes.

Developing themes is a creative and responsible process entirely dependent on the researcher's judgment, unlike quantitative research where statistical tests might identify themes. The themes you develop will be shaped by your research questions and what you aim to explain to your readers. Codes communicate what is in your data, and you use them to answer your research questions. The same data set can lead to different themes depending on the research questions being asked by different researchers. An example illustrates how two studies using the same data on migrants could generate different themes based on their distinct research questions (self-esteem vs. reasons for changing jobs).

The first question to ask after coding is: 'What is the data really telling me about my research questions?' It's easy to be overwhelmed by data, but the main goal is to answer these questions. At this stage, you should be familiar with your coded extracts. Stepping back and reviewing your coding framework helps you understand the story your data tells in relation to your research questions. Irrelevant data, while seemingly a problem, indicates participant comfort and successful rapport, but you must focus on what is relevant to your research questions.

The second set of questions revolves around communicating your findings: 'How do I tell the reader this story? How do I explain what I found?' A useful mental exercise is to imagine explaining your findings to someone, like a family member or at a conference, in a brief period (e.g., one or two minutes). This natural summarizing process often leads to thinking in themes, as themes are general topics and patterns. Free writing is another technique to understand your learnings before communicating them.

After addressing these questions, return to your data and attempt to organize your codes according to the themes conceived during your mental exercise. While fitting codes into categories, ensure there is sufficient evidence in your data. Do not force data where it doesn't belong. The primary goal is to answer research questions clearly for your audience. Finally, evaluate your thematic framework by asking: 'Is it clear enough for someone (a neutral person) to understand without my explanation?' A well-structured framework should independently convey the story of your data.