Human Restoration Project 1 / 25
A workshop in qualitative research with real student data.
Three sections. One goal: turn student words into real insights.
part 1 · ~30 min
Practice sorting and grouping with pictures.
part 2 · ~80 min
Find patterns and build themes from real peer quotes.
part 3 · ~30 min
Turn your themes into conclusions and recommendations.
Learning to group, categorize, and find patterns
It's about understanding people's words, experiences, and stories.
Instead of counting numbers, we look for patterns in what people say.
"73% of students said they feel stressed."
"I feel like there's never enough time to just breathe."
Both matter. Today we focus on the WHY behind the numbers.
the activity
No wrong answers — but your reasoning matters!
the activity
No wrong answers — but your reasoning matters!
the activity
Do you see a "theme" among these codes?
These would be overall statements, ideas, or assessments we could make of this data, based on our groupings.
Not every team made the same number — that's okay!
Naming a group = naming a theme.
Quotes can belong to multiple themes too.
Researchers talk it out and make choices together.
Look for repeated patterns. Name those patterns. Those are your themes.
Based on Braun & Clarke (2006) — the most widely-used qualitative analysis method in the world.
→ Finding codes
→ Finding subcodes
→ Defining themes
→ Writing your analysis
Now let's do it for real — with actual student voices.
Real words from real students. No mocking, no judging.
If a quote surprises you, lean in. Ask: why might someone feel this way?
Different teams may find different themes. That's normal.
Don't skip the short or confusing ones. They often hold the biggest insights.
step 1
As you read each quote…
researcher tip
This step is the bedrock of your entire analysis. You can't build a house without understanding the land it sits on.
Read actively. Ask: what is this person really saying?
step 2
Sort quotes with a short code — a word or phrase that captures the idea.
One quote can have multiple codes. Do broad groupings, then subcode. If a code is very small or very large — regroup.
Themes-within-a-theme. They break big ideas into smaller, clearer pieces.
Subthemes can even have their own subthemes. The depth depends on your data!
Build your thematic map.
Raise your hand if you get stuck!
step 3
Group your codes. Which ones go together? Those groups become themes.
Student voice · Wanting to be heard · Choice
Stress · Not enough time · Feeling rushed · Mental health
Boredom · Relevance
step 4
Do your themes actually hold up? Pressure-test them.
Ask yourselves:
step 5
Give each theme a clear, short name. Write 1–2 sentences about what it means.
Specific. Descriptive. Tells a story.
Too vague. Should immediately tell someone what the theme is about.
Build your thematic map.
Raise your hand if you get stuck!
From Themes to Recommendations
Your work today can influence real decisions at your school.
Thematic analysis is used by university researchers worldwide.
When students lead research on their own experiences, schools make better decisions.
1
What patterns did you find?
2
What do those patterns mean?
3
What should we do about it?
Use these sentence starters to guide your presentation:
Thank you for being researchers today.
Human Restoration Project · connect@humanrestorationproject.org
Methodology: Braun & Clarke (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.