Manifest/Latent Analysis

Within thematic analysis, a theme represents, “some level of patterned response or meaning” within the data (Braun & Clarke,

2006, p.10) and can be from explicit or implicit content (Joffe, 2012).

1617 4218227 13451640 Thesis Volume 1 Page 76 As sexuality is a complex and abstract concept which is not often openly discussed, it was considered that participants may be unable to offer an unambiguous account of their experiences and the

language used by participants may require interpretation. On this basis, data analysis was conducted from a mixed latent and manifest level. This included identifying codes which were evidenced

semantically and explicitly cited within the data (manifest level

coding) as well as coding by applying some interpretation to establish the meaning of what was being said (latent level coding). To ensure that analysis processes were data-driven, both manifest and latent level codes were supported using exerts from raw data. When using latent level coding, the researcher is able to draw meaning from the data which may not be explicit. This method increases the potential that data may be misrepresented or misinterpreted by the

researcher. To mitigate this risk and promote our ability to gain a credible account of participant views when using latent coding, a number of quality assurance checks were taken during the data analysis phase, including accessing regular supervision to ensure latent level interpretations were representative of the data (see

section 4.2.9 and Table 5 for information on quality assurance checks related to coding processes). Whilst some themes represented either a majority of latent or manifest codes, most themes were constructed using mixed-level coding. An illustrative example has been provided to demonstrate data which was coded against the sub-theme of

‘heteronormative’ at both manifest and latent levels, where the sub-theme was represented both directly from within the text and

concluded from making an interpretation about the meaning of what was being said.

1617 4218227 13451640 Thesis Volume 1 Page 77 Examples of ‘heteronormative’ latent level codes:

“But what I think is that, it’s kindness that matters. Kindness between men and women.” (F2)

“If they are sexually active I don’t see any problem with that, but I don’t know if it’s allowed. If there is such a thing as it being allowed. You know, because I don’t know if all care

homes are set up for male and female, you know, couples. (F5)

“Sex and sexuality are two different words and two different meanings and they’re nothing to do, well I suppose they are to do with each other, but not, they’re related I suppose but it’s not the main. I don’t think of sexuality alongside sex between male and female, you know, sex relationships.” (F7)

Examples of ‘heteronormative’ manifest level codes:

“I can’t separate myself out from being a gay man within a straight society.” (M2)

“Because I’ve been married, got a couple of kids, probably look a bit more feminine, people don’t make any assumptions about me at all … but it also means that sometimes you do have to actually tell people [about sexual orientation] because they’re making assumptions.” (F4)

“And that kind of pressure of knowing in every situation to some extent although most people will not be prejudiced of pejorative in any way there is this sense to be assumed to be heterosexual unless you say otherwise.” (M2)

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“A man and a woman, yes, I mean that’s the normal.” (F2)

“But then you think, well, if you’re a person of our age living in a small town or large village, we’re never quite sure what it’s called where they live, you perhaps wouldn’t even consider doing anything other than marrying a person of the opposite sex when we did, we got married. It was so much more unusual.” (F6)

“But I think that is still the group of people that are arriving in the care homes. I think they have always, the vast, vast majority of them will have conformed to a straight male or female orientation. I know that hasn’t been going on inside them but society has forced that upon them.” (F8)

In contrast, the sub-theme ‘displacement’ was predominantly

constructed from latent level codes, where the data was interpreted as representing the ways in which participants were not directly able or willing to speak about their own sexuality. Some examples of data which was interpreted as being a parallel example described by the participant to talk about an aspect of sexuality indirectly have been provided below:

“I think being able to sit on a sofa beside someone you’ve got that physical contact much more. And erm. I mean like for example, well the dog comes and sits on the sofa beside me and I like that.” (F1)

“I think it may have been in the States about a little boy who was raised as a girl by his mother and the courts have stepped in and said he isn’t a little girl, he’s a little boy. He’s never

1617 4218227 13451640 Thesis Volume 1 Page 79 shown any interest in being a girl. You’re dressing him as a girl and the father has stepped in and said ‘This is ridiculous’. It’s a separated couple. ‘This is ridiculous. He is a little boy’. He is now in the father’s care because the courts took him away from the mother and he’s now a perfectly happy little boy doing boy things, and she would, you know, wanting to dress him as a fairy and in plaits and with jewels and pink and whatnot, and that seems to me what people are talking about when they’re talking about sexuality.” (F3)