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MaS
[Registered User]
13 August 2024 15:59
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Dissertation Help!!!
User: MaS - 13 August 2024 15:59
Hi
I am currently working on my dissertation. I am stuck with a lot of questions in the analysis part. It uses reflexive thematic analysis by Braun & Clarke to analyze semi-structured interviews of participants. I initially developed 8 themes but have reduced them to 3 themes with sub-themes now. I am struck by lot of questions as I look to start writing up the report part.
My questions & concerns:
Are my themes too dense or broad? Do they look like topic summaries?
Do I separate the results and discussion section or combine them as I read different views on this?
"The document structure for academic journal articles and Masters or PhD theses typically subscribe to the convention of reporting results of analyses in a ‘results’ section and then synthesising and contextualising the results of analyses in a ‘discussion’ section. Conversely, Braun and Clarke recommend synthesising and contextualising data as and when they are reported in the ‘results’ section. "
I have been unable to reach out to my supervisor and at this point need to find some answers to guide me. Any help is appreciated as I have like a little more than 10 days left.
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jerry_thomson
[Registered User]
03 December 2024 09:41
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User: jerry_thomson - 03 December 2024 09:41
If you're juggling tasks, consider balancing your workload with professional support. Adelaideresumewriters.com could also help refine your career documents for post-grad opportunities.
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Kylerichards
[Registered User]
08 October 2025 16:01
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User: Kylerichards - 08 October 2025 16:01
I can totally relate to your struggle. I faced something similar when I had to [url=https://affordableassignments.co.uk/economics-dissertation]write my economics dissertation[/url]. Balancing between dense themes and maintaining clarity can be tricky. I found breaking them into sub-themes with concise explanations helped a lot. Affordable Assignments provided great guidance on structuring sections clearly without losing analytical depth.
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Lily_123
[Registered User]
10 November 2025 12:46
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User: Lily_123 - 10 November 2025 12:46
Hi!
I totally understand how stressful this stage can be, especially with reflexive thematic analysis—it can feel like you’re stuck in a maze sometimes. I faced a very similar situation with my dissertation, and what really helped me was getting some expert guidance. I reached out to Projectsdeal.co.uk, and their team walked me through how to structure my themes, refine sub-themes, and balance the results and discussion sections. Honestly, it made a huge difference—I could focus on writing instead of stressing over analysis questions.
A few tips I can share from my experience:
1. Themes – dense or broad?
If your 3 themes with sub-themes cover your data meaningfully and each tells a clear “story,” that’s fine. The sub-themes should clarify the bigger theme, not just repeat it.
Quick check: would someone unfamiliar with your research clearly understand the differences between themes and sub-themes? If yes, you’re good.
2. Results and Discussion – separate or combined?
Traditional theses separate Results (what you found) and Discussion (what it means).
Braun & Clarke suggest integrating reporting and interpretation, which can work well for qualitative data.
A practical approach I used: report main findings with brief interpretations in each theme, then dive into deeper discussion in the final chapter.
3. General advice:
Use participant quotes to support themes—it makes the analysis concrete.
Prioritize clarity over length.
Plan your writing with mini-deadlines to ensure completion within your timeframe.
From my personal experience, I highly recommend Projectsdeal.co.uk if you need guidance. They made the whole process much less stressful and really helped me get my dissertation on track.
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daniellemcmillen89
[Registered User]
08 March 2026 13:29
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User: daniellemcmillen89 - 08 March 2026 13:29
I know this might be a little too late since the question was posted a couple of years ago, but I’ll share a quick perspective in case it helps someone else who lands here with the same issue.
The stage you described is actually where a lot of people get stuck when using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke). Coding usually goes smoothly, but once you start writing the analysis chapter, questions about themes and structure start appearing.
On the themes question, reducing eight themes down to three themes with subthemes is completely normal. The key thing to check is whether your themes capture a pattern of meaning rather than just summarizing topics. A quick test is to ask: does this theme explain something about the research question, or is it simply describing what participants talked about? If it helps explain the research question, you’re probably on the right track.
For the results vs discussion issue, most master’s dissertations still keep these sections separate. The results chapter usually introduces the themes and supports them with participant quotes, while the discussion chapter connects those findings back to the literature and explains their broader significance. Even though Braun & Clarke sometimes suggest weaving interpretation into the results, many universities still prefer the traditional structure.
If someone finds themselves in this situation and can’t reach their supervisor, another option is getting a second set of eyes from a dissertation coach from a service like DissertationsByLuke.com . Supervisors guide the research direction but often don’t have time to go line-by-line through an analysis chapter.
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