Thematic analysis informed by grounded theory (TAG) in healthcare research: foundations and applications

ABSTRACT

Grounded theory (GT) and thematic analysis (TA) are commonly used in qualitative healthcare research. Published by Glaser and Strauss in 1967, GT was the first set of qualitative research strategies described. TA has since been compared with selected GT strategies. This narrative review aims to examine and illustrate how TA can be informed by GT and elucidate a TA informed by GT (TAG) methodology. Utlizing models of researching practice wisdom and reflexive inquiry, fifty author-published TAG studies (1996–2024) were examined. Analysis delineated a TAG methodology and clarifies Glaser and Strauss’s foundational roles in its development. TAG adheres to constructivism. Main GT strategies informing TAG include: comparative, predominantly inductive, and iterative analysis; and coding (data segment labels), category (code group), and thematic (category group) development. TAG can also encompass four-level thematic abstraction, and qualitative inter-rater reliability procedures enhance trustworthiness. TAG is a practical and effective methodological approach for qualitative healthcare research.

KEYWORDS:

• Constructivism
• grounded theory
• grounded theory informed thematic analysis (TAG)
• healthcare research
• mixed methods research
• qualitative inter-rater reliability
• qualitative research
• thematic analysis

Acknowledgments

Thank you Emeritus Professor Denise Grocke, who supervised the first study examined in this article (O’Callaghan 1996), Lisa Barrand for encouragement, and the journal article reviewers for providing constructive and helpful feedback.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2024.2347580

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Clare O’Callaghan

Clare O’Callaghan is a music therapist at Caritas Christi (palliative care unit) and a researcher with Psychosocial Cancer Care at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne. She is also an Honorary Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, St Vincent’s Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Australia. Throughout a four decade practitioner-researcher career (initially as a social worker), Clare has written or collaborated on many articles and book chapters focussed on improving support and outcomes for people affected by life-threatening conditions.

Justin Dwyer

Justin Dwyer is a psychiatrist and Medical Director of Psychosocial Cancer Care at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, where a long-standing interest in death and dying underpin his work. Qualitative research methods are at the centre of his research efforts.

Penelope Schofield

Penelope Schofield is the Professor of Health Psychology in the Department of Psychology, and Program Lead: Personalised Health Care in the Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute at Swinburne University of Technology, Australia. A behavioural scientist with over 30 years’ experience conducting research in oncology and chronic illnesses, Professor Schofield’s current research program adopts a comprehensive approach using codesigned, digital solutions to improve outcomes for patients and carers; and alleviating burden on the health system.