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11 months ago in Data , Thematic Analysis By DavidMal

How would you construct an audit trail for your thematic analysis decisions, from raw transcripts to final report, to allow examiners to follow your analytical journey?

I need to provide evidence of a systematic process, not just polished outputs. My concern is creating a trail that is thorough enough to demonstrate rigor but manageable within a PhD timeline. What specific artifacts (memos, diagrams, etc.) should I retain and potentially annex to show the legitimacy of my analytical journey?

 

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By John Answered 8 months ago

Think of your audit trail as a curated story of your analysis for your examiner. I would recommend a multi-layered approach. Keep your raw data, of course, but the key is your process notes: initial analytic memos, mind maps showing how you clustered codes, and iterative versions of your thematic map with notes on why you merged or split themes. I have found that a simple “decision log” spreadsheet recording date, transcript/ code, issue, and resolution is invaluable. This archive doesn’t go in the main body, but you can reference it, showing examiners a transparent, auditable path was followed..

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