What does "thematic analysis" refer to in qualitative research?

Thematic analysis in qualitative research refers to the process of identifying, analyzing, and reporting patterns, or themes, within data. This approach allows researchers to interpret various meanings and insights that emerge from qualitative data, such as interviews, focus groups, or open-ended questionnaires. By organizing data into meaningful themes, researchers can highlight significant findings and provide a richer understanding of the phenomena being studied. This method is flexible and can be adapted to various theoretical frameworks, making it a widely used tool in qualitative research.

The other answer choices refer to methods or practices that do not align with the principles of thematic analysis. For instance, a detailed statistical examination of data pertains to quantitative research methods, which focus on numerical data rather than qualitative insights. Similarly, a method strictly for quantitative studies does not apply, as thematic analysis is inherently qualitative in nature. Finally, summarizing findings via numerical data points also reflects a quantitative approach, which emphasizes statistical results rather than thematic interpretation.