Learning psychology as a challenging process towards development as well as “studies as usual”: a thematic analysis of medical students’ reflective writing

Figures & data

Table 1 Example of the abstraction process in the study, from raw text, into code, category and subtheme

Text	Code	Category	Subtheme
I believe that the purpose of psychology is to simplify and theorize human behavior, in order to better understand it and using it to help people	The purpose of psychology is to understand and to help people	Insights on a more theoretical level	The course gave new purely intellectual skills and eye-openers

Table 2 Main theme and subthemes constructed through thematic analysis of students’ (n=32) reflective texts

Main theme Learning psychology as a challenging process toward development, as well as “studies as usual” Subthemes The course has enabled me and the class to develop, which is good albeit arduous Understanding myself is a resource in understanding people as well as knowing psychology The course provided me with new, purely intellectual skills as well as eye-openers The receiving teacher is an integral part of my reflective writing