Thematic analysis in psychology

Module 1: Paraphrase and Summarize Worksheet

Instructions

Below I have included 6 paragraphs drawn from academic books and articles. They are on a variety of topics and themes. Be aware that these are direct quotes, but I did not put them in quotations for formatting purposes because I want you to focus on the language. Note that some citations in the text have been removed for the purpose of this activity. Each paragraph has its citation below along with page numbers. You are instructed to paraphrase three of the paragraphs and summarize three. The key is to restate or summarize without plagiarizing. This requires that you use your own academic language to state the very same ideas. As described in the Writing Skills Overview, when paraphrasing you will use approximately the same number of words. When summarizing you will use fewer words.

I recommend that you read the paragraph over several times until you feel as though you have internalized the meaning of every phrase and sentence, and the purpose of the paragraph as a whole. When paraphrasing, consider using sentences that have a different structure than the original text. You may also begin with the concluding idea and work toward the opening, rearranging the of ideas. That is one way to clearly avoid plagiarizing. Remember that in both paraphrasing and summarizing you do not introduce any of your own ideas. Stay exclusively with what the author is saying.

In the exercises in summarizing, you will include a reference to the author. This means including an in-text citation or a citation at the end. Here you are making it clear where the ideas come from. Typically you would do this in a paraphrase, but in these examples just restate the ideas without a citation.

When you have completed this worksheet, upload the document to the Assignment for Module 1. Keep it as a Word Document.

Paraphrase

1. Thematic analysis is a method for identifying, analyzing and reporting patterns
(themes) within data. It minimally organizes and describes your data set in (rich) detail. However, frequently it goes further than this, and interprets various aspects of the research topic. The range of different possible thematic analyses will further be highlighted in relation to a number of decisions regarding it as a method. (63 words)

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(1), 77-101. (p. 79)

1. Your Paraphrase: Paraphrase this paragraph below in approximately the same number of words. Do not include a citation in your paraphrase.

2. The recent rise of mindfulness research in the academic literature has been so rapid that it has been described as “exponential” or likened to an “explosion”. While mindfulness may have initially conjured up a hippie image and related connotations, it has now found a firm place in mainstream psychology alongside, or integrated within, other approaches to psychological treatment. (p 1)

Krägeloh, C. (2018). Phenomenological research fails to capture the experience of nondual awareness. Mindfulness. doi:10.1007/s12671-018-0995-z

2. Your Paraphrase: Paraphrase this paragraph below in approximately the same number of words. Do not include a citation in your paraphrase.

3. Yoga-nidra is a popular subject for seminars about yoga practice and yoga therapy. Although many teachers use the term yoga-nidra as a synonym for relaxation, some practices have little relationship to the traditional definitions in the literature. In the majority of studies of yoga-nidra, subjective questionnaires and rating scales were used to examine the effects of relaxation protocols; however, yoga-nidra’s physiological and neurological processes were not systematically evaluated. Consequently, the operational definition of yoga-nidra has become diluted and confused, making systematic hypothesis testing and cross-study comparison and replication difficult. (89 words)

Parker, S., Bharati, Swami. V., & Fernandez, M. (2013). Defining yoga-nidra: Traditional accounts, physiological research, and future directions. International Journal of Yoga Therapy, 23(1), 11-16. (p. 11)

3. Your Paraphrase: Paraphrase this paragraph below in approximately the same number of words. Do not include a citation in your paraphrase.

Summarize

1. Embodied spirituality, in contrast, views all human dimensions—body, vital, heart, mind, and consciousness—as equal partners in bringing self, community, and world into a fuller alignment with the mystery out of which everything arises. Far from being an obstacle, this approach sees the engagement of the body and its vital/primary energies as crucial not only for a thorough spiritual transformation, but also the creative exploration of expanded forms of spiritual freedom. The consecration of the whole person leads naturally to the cultivation of a “full chakra” spirituality that seeks to make all human attributes permeable to the presence of both transcendent and immanent spiritual sources. This account does not mean that embodied spirituality ignores the need to emancipate body and instinct from possible alienating tendencies, rather, it means that all human dimensions—not just somatic and primary ones—are recognized as possibly alienated but also equally capable of sharing freely in the unfolding life of the mystery here on earth. (161 words)

Ferrer, J. N. (2018). Participation and the mystery: Transpersonal essays in psychology, education and religion. New York: SUNY Press. (page 74)

1. Your Summary: Summarize this paragraph below in approximately 60 words. Include a citation in your summary.

2. The systematic investigation of mind—body relations forms the scientific basis for the science of psychophysiology. Unlike the correlative view of mind—body evaluations that dominates psychology and psychiatry, psychophysiology emphasizes a continuity between neurophysiological and psychological processes. Psychophysiologists assume that the nervous system provides the functional units for the bidirectional transduction of psychological and physiological processes. Thus, from a psychophysiological perspective, it is possible to link psychological processes with neurophysiological processes and brain structures by measurement and not just theory. (81 words)

Porges, S. W. (2011). The polyvagal theory: Neurophysiological foundations of emotions, attachment, communication, and self-regulation. W. W. Norton and Company. (page 20).

2. Your Summary: Summarize this paragraph below in approximately 40 words. Include a citation in your summary.

3. The purpose of considering religion and spirituality to be equal to the host of other multicultural diversities is not to encourage assumptions. Rather, it is to build the understanding that this aspect of clients’ lives may set them apart from others, may link them to others due to a shared understanding, or may have had no profound effects whatsoever on their mental and emotional well-being. (65 words)

Vieten, C., & Scammell, S. (2015). Spiritual and religious competencies in clinical practice: Guidelines for psychotherapists and mental health professionals. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications. (page 33)

3. Your Summary: Summarize this paragraph below in approximately 30 words. Include a citation in your summary.