What is a primary reason thematic analysis is preferred in qualitative research within psychology?

Thematic analysis is favored in psychology because it lets researchers explore and describe patterns of meaning across participants’ stories without forcing data into pre‑set categories. By coding text and then grouping codes into themes, analysts can capture both the depth of individual experiences and the commonalities that emerge across a sample. This flexible, inductive approach aligns with the discipline’s focus on subjective experience while still allowing for systematic, transparent reporting. For example, when studying anxiety, a researcher might identify themes such as “anticipatory worry,” “physical symptoms,” and “coping strategies” that appear in many interviews, revealing both shared and unique aspects of the condition.