What is one of the main purposes of thematic analysis?

Thematic analysis is fundamentally focused on identifying and examining themes within qualitative data. Its main purpose is to analyze the context in which qualitative data is produced, allowing researchers to understand patterns, meanings, and experiences shared by participants. By exploring themes, researchers gain insights into participants' perspectives and the meanings they attach to their experiences, which can be critical for developing a deeper understanding of the research context.

While comparing quantitative results might be important in certain research methodologies, it is not an objective of thematic analysis, as this approach typically deals with qualitative data. Similarly, while developing new theoretical models could emerge from findings obtained through thematic analysis, the primary aim of this method is to comprehend the qualitative experience, rather than to construct theories outright. Additionally, maintaining participant anonymity is essential in research ethics but is not a direct purpose of thematic analysis itself.