Using the framework approach to analyse qualitative data: a worked example
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Using the framework approach to analyse qualitative data: a worked example

Alison Hackett Lecturer, Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Scotland
Karen Strickland Professor of nursing, Clinical chair, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Australia

Background Data management and analysis are crucial stages in research, particularly qualitative research, which accumulates large volumes of data. There are various approaches that can be used to manage and analyse qualitative data, the framework approach being one example widely used in nursing research.

Aims To consider the strengths and challenges of the framework approach and its application to practice. To help the novice researcher select an approach to thematic analysis.

Discussion This paper provides an account of one novice researcher’s experience of using the framework approach for thematic analysis. It begins with an explanation of the approach and why it was selected, followed by its application to practice using a worked example, and an account of the strengths and challenges of using this approach.

Conclusion The framework approach offers the researcher a systematic structure to manage, analyse and identify themes, enabling the development and maintenance of a transparent audit trail. It is particularly useful with large volumes of text and is suitable for use with different qualitative approaches.

Nurse Researcher. 26, 2, 8-13. doi: 10.7748/nr.2018.e1580

Citation

Hackett A, Strickland K (2018) Using the framework approach to analyse qualitative data: a worked example. Nurse Researcher. doi: 10.7748/nr.2018.e1580

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and has been checked for plagiarism using automated software

Correspondence

alison.hackett@stir.ac.uk

Conflict of interest

None declared

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