Although I couldn’t attend workshop 3a, I saw the recording and chose Semiotic analysis and Thematic analysis to compare. Whilst they are both qualitative research methods used to interpret data, they differ in focus and application.
Semiotic Analysis
Semiotic analysis examines signs and symbols within cultural contexts to understand how meaning is constructed and communicated. It involves identifying the signifier (the form of a sign) and the signified (the concept it represents), and analysing their relationship to interpret underlying meanings. This method is particularly useful in studying visual media, advertisements, and cultural artifacts. I teach basic Semiotics online in a UAL Short Course ‘Introduction to Visual Communication’, so I am familiar with it and is an approach I find very valuable to interpret the visual world, and also links back to my interest in context and relevance discussed in my first ARP Post www.23044881.myblog-staging.arts.ac.uk/2025/01/09/arp-1-my-project-focus
In “Social Research: A Practical Introduction,” (Curtis, B. & Curtis, C., 2021. ‘Social Research: A Practical Introduction’. 2nd ed. London: SAGE.), Bruce Curtis and Cate Curtis describe semiotic analysis as “the study of signs and their meaning relating to the social world and social processes.” They emphasise that this approach focuses on understanding how meaning is generated and interpreted within specific cultural contexts.
Thematic Analysis
Thematic analysis is a method for identifying, analysing, and reporting patterns (themes) within qualitative data. It involves coding data, searching for themes among codes, reviewing themes, defining and naming themes, and producing a report. This approach is flexible and can be applied to various types of qualitative data, including interviews, focus groups, and open-ended survey responses.
According to ATLAS.ti, which is software to analyse data (I didn’t use it as I didn’t want to purchase it), thematic analysis “provides a flexible yet structured approach to analysing data from surveys, offering qualitative researchers a methodical way to interpret complex datasets.” This method allows researchers to systematically identify and interpret key themes emerging from qualitative data.
While semiotic analysis is valuable for interpreting visual materials and understanding cultural meanings, thematic analysis offers a more straightforward and structured approach for analysing textual data from questionnaires. By focusing on the content of students’ responses, thematic analysis facilitates the extraction of meaningful insights.
Relevance to my Analyses:
I think in this context thematic analysis is particularly suitable. This method will enable me to systematically identify common themes and patterns in the students’ feedback, providing insights into their learning experiences, challenges faced, and areas for improvement.
For instance, if students frequently mention difficulties in mastering specific Illustrator tools, thematic analysis can highlight this as a recurring theme, suggesting a need for targeted instructional support. Additionally, thematic analysis can uncover positive experiences, such as aspects of the analogue drawing exercise or software that students find intuitive or particularly useful for their creative processes.
I was grateful to Karen for mentioning a book she finds useful ‘Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide’ by Virginia Brau, Sage Publication, (2021). In particular I like the approach that I am part of the process, not standing objectively outside of it.
Braun, V. and Clarke, V. (2021) ‘Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide’ London, Sage Publications.
Curtis, B. & Curtis, C., 2021. ‘Social Research: A Practical Introduction’. 2nd ed. London: SAGE.