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Selecting the right methodology depends on your research area. All these concepts are applied to different types of research. For understanding them, you have to read a lot of books. The most famous book on research methods is by Creswell, “Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five traditions

Thematic analysis is a broadly used method of investigation in qualitative research. It is easy to use which lends itself to use for novice researchers who are unfamiliar with more complicated types of qualitative analysis. It permits for flexibility in the researchers choice of theoretical framework. Through this flexibility, the thematic analysis allows for a rich, detailed and elaborate description of your data. Phenomenological analysis tends to produce a significant quantity of data that may include interview notes, transcripts, recordings, and other types of records that must be examined. Pure phenomenology analysis attempt to describe the data, but does not attempt to explain or interpret. However, the phenomenological analysis adds an interpretive element that allows the data to be used as a basis for theory and allows it to be used to challenge or normative assumptions. The narrative analysis focuses on text, media text, picture, film, music and an environment, which act as a story or have a story-like structure. You will need to know narrative theory to enable you to categorize the phenomenon regarding structure, concepts, terms, and points of views. If you use narrative analysis, your research will produce generalizations of thinking, actions, meanings, and attitudes related to the phenomenon.

According to me, you should use thematic analysis for your research. I talked about your problem with one of my professors, and he suggested that thematic analysis is the most appropriate technique according to your research topic. As your research seems elaborative, it will help you to substantiate a broad set of data and understand the themes based on it.

I know these terms are somewhat similar and confusing at the same time, but a method is only well understood when you apply it in a real scenario, and I am aware of the thematic analysis only, rest I have just considered in theory, so my ideas aren’t that sharp either. As far as I know, phenomenology is regarded as a methodology itself, while thematic analysis is just a method. I am sorry my friend, but I know this much only. Maybe it will help you.