Template analysis (Crabtree and Miller, 1999; King, 2004) is one method of thematically analysing qualitative data. This approach involves developing an initial coding ‘template’ summarising the themes identified by the researcher and organising them in a meaningful and useful way. Template analysis emphasises hierarchical coding, i.e. beginning with broad themes and then encompassing sequentially narrower, more defined themes as the analysis progresses. Template analysis often begins by the researcher identifying some
a priori codes related to the main research question and Crabtree and Miller
(1999) suggest that researchers can develop codes: ‘only after some initial exploration of the data has taken place, using an immersion, crystallisation or editing organising style. A common intermediate approach is when some initial codes are refined and modified during the analysis process; this intermediate approach is demonstrated in this study.
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A priori codes used in this study are based on the determinants of success
identified in Chapter Two and are based on the SPLISS model. According to King, Bell, Martin and Farrell (2003), a priori codes often develop because a researcher has started with the assumption that certain aspects of the phenomena being investigated should be a focus of the investigation. King (2004) supports three positions when generating a priori codes. Firstly, have some a priori codes based on the theoretical position of the research, in this case, SPLISS; secondly, develop codes after some initial coding of a subset of data, (phase one and this case; thirdly, use a combination of these two approaches that is start with some pre-defined codes and refine these after some initial exploration of the data in this study, the analysis of phases one, two and three. A priori codes are, therefore, often identified before the full data set has been analysed and can emerge from initial coding of a subset of the data, or be drawn from the literature review, or emerge from recommendations in earlier research. As King, Carroll, Newton and Dornan (2002) recommended the
a priori codes or themes were treated as provisional and sequentially developed
throughout the phases of the study.
Once the a priori themes were defined, the next stage was to read through the interview transcripts, marking sections that appeared to the researcher to have some relevance to the research question. These codes were then organised into an initial template, based on the coding of a subset of the interview transcripts. This study undertook a subset of two interviews to develop the initial template used in phase one. The initial template was then applied to the whole data set, i.e. all the interview transcripts and modifications were made based on the new themes that emerged e.g. the role of charities in the development of talent. Once the final template was defined, as presented below in Table 3.2, it
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was used to code all the interview transcripts, providing a basis for the researcher’s interpretation.
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TABLE 3.2ANALYSIS TEMPLATE
A Priori Themes
Emergent
Themes Sub Theme
Finance Charity, Sponsorship, Agent, Organisation &
Management
Disability Sport Associations, Home Nations, British Athletics, Local Club, IPC, IPA
Foundation &
Participation
Talent ID and Development
Home Nation, Talent ID, Subjective, Talent transfer.
Education School, University, Mainstream or Specialist Schooling Athletic and Post Carer Support Training
Facilities Support Services
Strength and Conditioning, Medical, Sport Psychology, Facilities, Sport Science, Overseas Training Opportunities, Specialist Equipment. Coaching
Provision & Coach Development
Coaching
Coach Reliance, Volunteer Culture, Adaptability, Coach Education and Development, Luck and Location, (Inter)national Competition Structure Competition Structure
Structure, Classification Specific, Integrated, Frequency
Scientific Research
Influential Individuals
Parental Support, Teachers, Previous coaches, Role of the carer.
Media TV coverage, Focus on Disability, Role Models
Personal
Challenges
Travel, Reliance on others, Role of the carer, Personal Assistant.
Classification Visibility, Equity, Variation of standards.
Evolution of Para Sport
Post London, Public Interest, Professionalization, Equity of rankings and standards.
Able bodied
comparisons
Mainstream, Olympic Comparisons, Event Inclusion/Exclusion, Discrimination, Standard of Performance, Number of participants
The main advantage of template analysis as an analytical technique is that it offers a flexible, iterative approach that does not tie itself to any one philosophical position. Template analysis enabled a systematic approach to
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data analysis while maintaining a reflexive approach (King, 2006). Crabtree and Miller (1999) note that template analysis allows the researcher to focus an initial effort on the text that is relevant to the aims while allowing the identification of additional themes later through engaging with the data in a more nuanced ‘line- by-line’ scrutiny. This approach to analysis enabled a move away from often- descriptive initial a priori themes to make connections to more interpretive themes, making template analysis a useful tool for exploratory qualitative research.
Using King’s (2004) template analysis approach, a thematic template was created that enabled consideration of the relationship between the a priori and emerging codes, between themes, and between different levels of themes, i.e. main themes and subthemes. Some of these codes are identified as significant themes in the analysis, some form sub-themes, and others are discarded as the analysis progresses. By combining a ‘deductive-inductive’ approach to coding the data, King’s original technique has been extended. Incorporating a priori coding of the data across the hierarchy of the three levels of codes in the final template, rather than just using a priori coding at the first level. During thematic analysis, data were first coded under the nine SPLISS a priori factors in a deductive reasoning process. When a new factor or policy area emerged, a new code was assigned using inductive reasoning, and a description of what the new code meant was added. All quotations which were coded within each policy area or theme were then reread. By continually comparing the quotations, data were then coded under more specific first and second level sub-themes until no further coding was possible (Biddle et al. 2001, Braun and Clarke 2006, Flick and Gibbs 2007).
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