Page 79 - IJPS-11-3

International Journal of
Population Studies Low fertility intentions in China

occurrence in the text), as opposed to the sheer emphasis study was to prioritize respondents’ own account of their
on understanding the meaning of the text by Braun and attitudes and opinions regarding their decision not to have
Clarke’s TA. Given that this research was designed in such a second child, as opposed to the emphasis on a critical
a way that the frequency of textual occurrences would not analytical approach that, for example, seeks to uncover
inform the generation and interpretation of a theme, the biases, inequalities, hidden agendas, or social structural
TA procedure is justified. injustice that may have led to their low fertility intentions.
TA is often considered a mere data analysis technique Third, the study adopted a predominantly inductive
with no analytic philosophy, lack of theoretical approach, open-coding the data and emphasizing
underpinnings, inadequately defined procedures, and respondent/data-based meanings over researcher/theory-
poorly demarcated from other research approaches based ones. We employed a degree of deductive analysis to
(Braun & Clarke, 2006, p. 77, 2019, p. 589). RTA is make sure that open coding produced themes relevant to
the result of the revisions to these limitations. RTA’s the research questions and that the meanings emphasized
“procedures reflect the values of the qualitative paradigm, by the respondents and interpreted from the data were also
centered researcher subjectivity, organic and recursive relevant to those questions.
coding processes, and the importance of deep reflection Finally, both semantic and latent coding were adopted.
on and engagement with the data” (Braun & Clarke, 2019, No attempt was undertaken to prioritize semantic coding
p. 593). After curbing the unduly flexibility nature of TA, over latent coding or vice versa. Rather, semantic codes
RTA, as underpinned within a paradigmatic framework were developed upon the interpretation of meaningful
of interpretivism and constructivism, is still afforded semantic information, whereas latent codes were developed
some level of flexibility, constrained by four theoretical when meaningful latent information was interpreted.
assumptions identified by Braun and Clarke (2022). These
assumptions are conceptualized as a series of continua as These theoretical assumptions were operationalized
follows: essentialist versus constructionist epistemologies; through the six-phase analytical process as outlined by
experiential versus critical orientation to data; inductive Braun and Clarke (2013; 2022): (1) familiarization with the
versus deductive analyses; and semantic versus latent data, (2) coding, (3) generating initial themes, (4) reviewing
coding of data. This article adopts Byrne’s (2022) themes, (5) refining, defining, and naming themes, and
suggestion that individuals using this approach shall (6) writing up. As advised by the methodologies (Braun
ascertain as to where and why their analysis is situated on & Clarke, 2021), the analysis is not a linear process of
each of these continua. moving forward through the phases; the researchers
move back and forth through the phases as necessary,
First, this study adopted a constructionist epistemology, recursively and iteratively. Braun and Clarke (2013, p. 239)
with which the researchers recognize the importance of also acknowledge that some of the coding and theme
recurring perceptibly information but prioritize meaning development procedures that have been formalized by
and meaningfulness as the primary criteria in the coding numerous well-established qualitative approaches – such
process (Byrne, 2022, p. 1395). This is in line with the as axial coding by Straussian’s interpretive grounded theory
study’s intention of emphasizing the understanding of (Strauss & Corbin, 1998) – are in fact similar to that of TA
the meaning of the text and language rather than the but in a different language. On this basis, and with the
frequency of its occurrences. Following this stance, methodologists’ recommendation for “researchers who
meanings and experiences were interpreted to be socially prefer more structure to benefit from axial coding” (Braun
produced and reproduced through interplay of subjective & Clarke, 2013, p. 241), this study decided to incorporate
and intersubjective constructions. This orientation is not both the practice and the terminology of axial coding into
only in alignment with the researchers’ view of how the this six-phase process.
reader should interpret the findings but also particularly Most importantly, this study subscribed to the principle
true in the sense that the respondents’ reasons for their that the researcher’s subjectivity and reflexivity are central
low fertility intentions were commented on in an open to data sense-making, viewing them as an asset rather than
domain, where these subjective responses were susceptible a potential threat to knowledge creation (Braun & Clarke,
to the social production and reproduction of meanings 2019). The reflexivity practices observed by the researchers
and experiences among fellow respondents.
– through reflexivity journals – include reflecting on
Second, the study adopted an experiential orientation the development of themes as well as documenting our
to data interpretation, emphasizing the meaning and values, positionings, choices, and research practices that
meaningfulness as described by the respondents. This influenced and shaped the study and the final analysis of
is the most appropriate orientation, as the aim of the the data.

Volume 11 Issue 3 (2025) 73 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.5124