Thematic Analysis and Artificial Intelligence: Using ChatGPT Step by Step
The first peer-reviewed process covering all six steps of thematic analysis with generative AI.
Earlier studies used AI for only fragments of thematic analysis, gave the AI no research context, and never informed it of the researcher’s methodological considerations. This paper addresses all three limitations. It contributes both researcher training in thematic analysis and the development of inputs to train AI — a complete, transparent workflow from familiarisation to conceptual model, validated by comparing GenAI outcomes against a published manual analysis of the same data set.
The AI-assisted six-step model
Familiarise the AI
Research focus, context, theory, philosophy, questions, methodology, participants
Keywords · 6Rs
Realness, richness, repetition, rationale, repartee, regal
Coding · 6Rs
Robust, reflective, resplendent, radical, relevant, righteous
Themes · 4Rs
Reciprocal, recognizable, responsive, resourceful
Conceptualisation
Define new concepts with theoretical conceptual clarity
Conceptual Model
Synthesise concepts into a theory-grounded framework
The quality frameworks
Each analytical object has published selection criteria, so AI outputs can be evaluated rather than accepted:
What the researcher provides at Step 1
The AI is only as rigorous as the context you give it. Before any analysis, the researcher familiarises ChatGPT with: the research focus, problem and context; the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings; the research questions, objectives and aim; a methodology summary; participants’ profiles; the process of data collection; and the six steps of systematic thematic analysis themselves — then asks the AI to confirm its understanding before proceeding. This is what separates a defensible AI-assisted analysis from pasting transcripts into a chatbot.
Naeem, M., Smith, T., & Thomas, L. (2025). Thematic Analysis and Artificial Intelligence: A Step-by-Step Process for Using ChatGPT in Thematic Analysis. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251333886 (open access)
Frequently asked questions
Does AI replace the researcher in thematic analysis?
No. The researcher supplies the theoretical framing, guides every step, and retains interpretive responsibility. The AI’s contribution is speed, consistency, reduced human bias, and a transparent, auditable record of how the analysis was conducted.
Is AI-assisted analysis acceptable to journals?
Transparency is the key. Because this process documents every prompt and every step, it improves accountability compared with undocumented manual judgement. Researchers should follow their target journal’s AI disclosure policies and report the process openly.
How was the process validated?
The paper compares each step of a ChatGPT-conducted systematic thematic analysis against the corresponding manual analysis from a published study of scan-and-go shopping apps, using the same data set, research context, methodology and theoretical underpinnings.
Do I need the original STA paper first?
It helps. The AI process follows the six steps of Systematic Thematic Analysis (Naeem et al., 2023), so reading that framework first gives you the methodological foundation the prompts are built on.