Building Themes: Learning to See the Bigger Picture

This week, I engaged in thematic analysis by transforming codes into themes and producing a thematic map that demonstrated the connection between them.  It helped me see how individual comments could come together to tell a larger story. Instead of just asking, “What is this person saying?” I began asking, “What does this tell me about the experience I am studying?”

The hardest part was deciding which ideas belonged together. Some codes seemed related at first, but a closer look showed that they described different experiences. Other codes used different words but shared a similar meaning. I had to slow down, review the examples, and think about what connected them. It was easy to use broad labels like “support” or “challenges,” but those labels did not always explain what participants were experiencing.

I also wanted the themes to feel organized right away. My first attempt looked more like a list of topics than an explanation of what the data meant. Creating the thematic map made the differences clear to me. As I joined themes, and subthemes, I noted where there was overlap and where a theme needed to be more focused. The map assisted me in verifying my reasoning rather than merely showing the end results.

I was surprised by how much I had learned when I analyzed the data. An idea that seemed important became less important at times. When I considered a small detail with other responses, it could become more meaningful. I understood I didn’t have to stay with my first ideas after using this visual artist.

Changing a theme did not mean my earlier work was wasted. It meant I was gaining a clearer understanding of the data.

This week’s work connects to my research interests in online learning and how AI tools might support student wellbeing. I want to understand more than whether students find a tool useful. I also want to learn how they describe support, trust, and stress, along with what makes them willing or unwilling to use the tool. Thematic analysis can help me explore those experiences without assuming all students have the same views about the technology.

Moving forward I will be giving myself more time to improve and revise my themes. I also will be using thematic maps during the process instead of waiting to the end. I know that this will help me think through the process and keep my findings better connected.