Navigating thematic analysis: practical strategies grounded in abductive reasoning

Abductive thematic analysis blends empirical observations with theoretical frameworks, fostering a continuous and dynamic exchange between research evidence and theory. It is distinct from other forms of analysis as it is underpinned by pragmatism and is flexible in its adoption of theory to best answer the research question. As a result of an interplay between theory and data, a surprising, puzzling, or anomalous finding may lead to new insights. This flexible approach to inquiry can draw from theories dependent upon what is best able to explain the data. This results in a theoretically informed explanation for empirical phenomena, which may in turn unveil unique insights about theories, making it a valuable tool across diverse research domains in medical science. The guidelines in this paper aim to illuminate abductive thematic analysis, steering the reader through each step toward maximizing novel theoretical contributions and fostering a comprehensive understanding for researchers and educators.