Thematic Analysis:

Climbing My Way to Self-

Reflection
Brian Koster
November 13, 2022
OGL 482
Janice Lawhorn
Introduction
What am I good at? What do I need to improve?
What motivates me? These sorts of questions plague
our minds and a Thematic Analysis is one way to
figure them out. This process involves accumulating
vast amounts of data, finding patterns, and
determining themes to plan for future endeavors. By
no means is this analysis taken lightly. It requires
looking over hundreds of codes of information to
determine who exactly we are. Please, join me, as I
reveal what makes me me and how I tick.
Research Process and Methods
ie: what did I do when assembling the data?

Collect Data - Transfer

and convert files to pdf

Sort Codes - Organize

highlighted parts into Read and Find Codes -
spreadsheet and Highlight statements
alphabetize coded and key works
columns.

Determine Themes -
Develop a Personal Cross-reference codes
Vision and Mission with sources and detect
Statement - a theme.
 My Data Sources

A Thematic Analysis is a compilation of resources to

determine personal vision and mission statements by finding
themes amongst qualitative data. This is done with reflective
papers, assessments, inventories, and surveys.
 Data Sources
Dreams & Desires (DD) - This is a personal list created to rank what we desire the most in our lives.
DISC Personality Test (DISC) - An in-depth test to determine the order of skills, strengths, motivators, behaviors, and values to a team. It
provides an explanation about the person, ways to (or not to) communicate, ideal work environments, challenges, weaknesses, and
degree/career matches, among many others.
Interviewing Project (IP) - Interviews with co-workers and close friends/family regarding how and what they value in me.
Kuder Career Interests Assessment (KCI) - Results from this assessment provide an understanding of six factors - realistic, investigative, artistic,
social, enterprising, and conventional - along with a selection of fitting occupations.

Kuder Skills Confidence Assessment (KSC) - Same factors as the Kuder Career Interests, but highlighting the skills of the person with
accompanying career options.

Motivation and Career Anchors Assessment (MCA) - This determines the needs and work factors of the person. It determines the best work
environment suitable for satisfaction in work life.

OGL Reflections (OGL) - A culmination of reflections from OGL classes throughout the years.

Super’s Work Values Inventory (SWV) - Similar to MCA, work satisfaction is important in how to make work life successful. This inventory ranks
important factors such as independence, co-workers, supervision, challenges, creativity, and more, to reflect the person’s ideal work values.

TypeLogic & Humanmetrics Jung Typology Test (TT) - Similar to the Myers-Briggs test, this determines the Extraversion/Introversion,
Intuition/Sensing, Thinking/Feeling, and Judging/Perceiving of a person.

Values Identification Exercise (VIE) - A useful exercise that sorts terminal and instrumental values of life goals.
My 10 Themes
I have assembled the following ten themes after much
reflection. These stood out and depict who I am and what I
stand for. Each will discuss how I came to this conclusion and a
small reflection over its meaning.
Theme #1
“I am an incredibly organized person.”
Data Sources:
○ I mention multiple times that I am a very organized person (OGL).
○ Conventional is ranked highest and is described as having activities that include “ordering
data, keeping records, and applying established guidelines” (KSC).
○ Clean (neat, tidy) is my second most important instrumental value (VIE).
○ Planning/Organizing is my #1 skill (DISC).
○ Everyone interviewed rated me high when it came to planning and organization skills (IP).
Contradictory Evidence: There are no contradictions. Too much evidence points to this skill.
Reflection: My lifestyle and work life are situated in staying organized. I have always seen this as
crucial to my livelihood. Though some areas are slightly disorganized, they still hold their
function in much the same way with meaning and purpose.
Theme #2
“I am motivated by independence and recognition.”
Data Sources:
○ Independence is at the top of my rankings when the assessment was taken twice (SWV).
○ Mentions of living an independent lifestyle are evident in my writings (DD & OGL).
○ My top motivator, with 7.0 points, is Individualistic/Political (DISC).
○ Autonomy/Independence ranks high in my latest motivation and career anchors
assessment (MCA).
Contradictory Evidence: Though I work in a team and sometimes request advice from others,
most of my life has been surrounded by individual efforts and the successes they produce.
Reflection: I tend to be drawn and prefer jobs that give me a sense of independence. I have the
tenacity to achieve independent results even within a group. Most of my jobs have been viewed
as independent.
Theme #3
“I am motivated to seek higher education (after graduation).”
Data Sources:
○ I mention multiple times in reflections that I have been seeking “a higher education,” citing specific
examples like human resources and business management (OGL).
○ Master’s degree - My most important dream and desire (DD).
○ Wisdom is my third most important terminal value (VIE).
○ According to DISC, Continuous Learning is my second highest skill (DISC).
Contradictory Evidence: Though I will have a higher degree, I am both dissatisfied that it is ending but also
have enjoyed the process of acquiring educational learning. I was content with my life years ago. Now, I am
glad I sought the ability to further my career potential.
Reflection: I feel it will be inevitable I look into a Master’s or Graduate degree program. I need time to
seriously consider the correct path because all I want is the higher education, but a broad range of careers are
mentioned. Several suggested occupations, according to my SWV and KCI, is an occupational health and safety
specialist, business administration, organizational leadership, environmental economist, and management
analyst. Choosing the right place and degree requires time that I do not currently have with devotion to full-
time class and full-time work. A semester off, as mentioned in my YellowDig (YD) posts, will allow me to relax
and reflect on my options. Additionally, there are many “learning” codes identified within my sources.
Theme #4
“I value seeking verification from data sources.”
Data Sources:
○ Highest on my Kuder career interest assessment (KCI).
○ Second highest on my Kuder skills assessment (KSC).
○ Several instances that I mention my willingness to “double-check” information, “do my
research,” and “gathering more data” (OGL).
○ In the description about myself, it mentions I make decisions “after gathering facts and
supportive data” (DISC).
Contradictory Evidence: I could not find evidence to disprove this value.
Reflection: It is true I like to make sure information is correctly relayed to me and that I verify its
source. Making a decision based on feelings is not my style. When it comes down to making
quick decisions, quality falters, which is something I do not value.
Theme #5
“I have skills within and motivation for management.”
Data Sources:
○ Several career opportunities are mentioned involving a management position (OGL).
○ Ranks third in my DISC skills (DISC).
○ Highest in my motivation and career anchors (MCA).
Contradictory Evidence: Although high in several areas, this is contradictory to autonomy and
independence which is high is work values (SWV). Can a manager (of a team) still be
independent?
Reflection: I am unsure where this will lead me as I am both high in independence and
managerial competence. A career with independent research would fit well.
Theme #6
“Being social requires quality.”
Data Sources:
○ I have several characteristics related to liking “quality social relationships,” having “people
skills to build group involvement,” and others (DISC).
○ In one of my work value assessments, relationships with co-workers had a medium effect
on my work enjoyment (SWV).
○ Extraversion is given a slight preference in my typology test (TT).
○ I have mentioned several times my social connection with people (OGL).
○ Social recognition is placed 6th in my terminal values (VIE).
Contradictory Evidence: Theme #2 (independence) counters my ability at being more social. My
DISC description of me says I “seek popularity and social recognition.”
Reflection: I came to the realization that my social factors rely upon quality interactions with
others. This includes asking them for help, advice, and listening to their concerns and opinions. I
have a tendency to volunteer my time only when I see that it will benefit me in the long term
with social recognition.
Theme #7
“I value and seek personal happiness.”
Data Sources:
○ Happiness is my #1 terminal value (VIE).
○ Lifestyle is high on my work values (SWV).
○ I mention my personal happiness with work and life and how I am content without
income being a factor (OGL).
Contradictory Evidence: I enjoy challenges and put myself up for such with the purpose of
unclear goals but with meaning (OGL, IP). This, in a way, seeks happiness by aligning myself with
a vision.
Reflection: When it comes to happiness, I hold a high regard for using resources that ensure my
contentedness. Most of this is embedded in my planning and organizing skills. If not for that, I
would feel stressed. Happiness means taking time to enjoy the things I want to do.
Theme #8
“I like having responsibility and it needs more developing.”
Data Sources:
○ Stemming from managerial competence, “higher levels of responsibility” are motivators
for these types of people (OGL).
○ Personal responsibility ranks 11th on my list of work skills. My strength tells me I am “the
ideal right hand to a goal-driven leader” (DISC).
○ Being responsible is my fourth important instrumental value (VIE).
Contradictory Evidence: In my DISC description about me, it says I “like working for managers,”
possibly meaning that I will not have full responsibility over organizational matters.
Reflection: When it comes to responsibility, I seek the entrepreneurial field by having my own
business, but I am keen on starting it only after I get more managerial/leadership experience, do
my research, and gain a firm understanding of its potential or success.
Theme #9
“I love problem-solving, but it’s not my top skill.”
Data Sources:
○ People I interview see that I am very good at problem-solving (IP).
○ Analytical problem solving is ranked seventh of my skills (out of twenty three), which is a
developed skill (DISC).
○ I ranked #1 for logical in instrumental values (VIE).
Contradictory Evidence: Though other people see my problem-solving abilities, there are other
skills that I excel in. Do I believe the people and what they say or the values I see in myself when
taking these assessments?
Reflection: I enjoy the act of problem-solving when I have the time to accomplish it. I notice that
when I do problem-solve, it is done individually, separate from a team or collective effort. I value
the autonomy of figuring out the puzzle alone rather than seeking advice about how to solve it
or what others have pieced together.
Theme #10
“I enjoy consistency.”
Data Sources:
○ Logical (consistent, rational) is my #1 value (VIE).
○ In DISC, I prefer “a stable and predictable (work) environment”. Also, my skill of flexibility
is ranked nineteenth (out of twenty three) (DISC).
○ Variety ranks the lowest of both times when taking the work values inventory (SWV).
Contradictory Evidence: It is true I enjoy consistency, but my work and school balance is
anything but. I do not know whether to believe that or place this into a desire not listed.
Reflection: These are values I want and give me the most benefit in my work and personal life.
However, I tend to accept flexible schedules within my current work. I believe it’s because I am
eager to be the most useful to the organization in all its success. I find it difficult to say “no” to a
request.
 My Vision Statement

To live a
planned and
organized life,
Reflection: I wanted to use my most for personal
prominent skills and values. No special happiness, and
process was used. Just reflecting on what
I wanted within one sentence. I believe continued
in simplicity and getting straight to the learning.
point.
Hey, it fits on a t-shirt!
My Mission Statement

Through
ambition and Reflection: I wanted to put a simple
encourage statement that encompasses my love of
climbing with difficult journeys. I learned that

will walls be I have strengths that will allow me to succeed

and weaknesses that I have to acknowledge. I
took this project’s process and developed a
climbed. criteria that I found fitting to me.
 Conclusion
This assignment was very difficult to construct. First, since I had lots of
documents, I needed to find a way to organize them all into a system
that works for me. Once done, I needed to find patterns and transcribe
them into something that someone else could understand. All this
would be enjoyable if I were given a longer time frame for completion. I FINISHED THIS
I excel at planning and organizing, but lack when it comes to time ASSIGNMENT,
management. I do not like to rush my work as I value quality over time AND I DIDN’T
and price (this is a project management concept). I did, however, EVEN GET A T-
reflect on these past exercises to recall my strengths and remember to SHIRT!!
focus on them while admitting to other skills and traits I lack.
References
DISC Personality Test (N.D.). Retrieved from https://www.indigoeducationcompany.com/

Motivation and Career Anchors Assessment (N.D.). Arizona State University. Retrieved from
https://canvas.asu.edu/courses/135927/files/55354049/download?download_frd=1

Super’s Work Values Inventory (N.D.). Retrieved from https://journey.kuder.com/

Kuder Career Interests Assessment (N.D.). Retrieved from https://journey.kuder.com/

Kuder Skills Confidence Assessment (N.D.). Retrieved from https://journey.kuder.com/

Values Identification Exercise (2020, Fall A). Arizona State University. Retrieved from file name: TERMINAL and
INSTRUMENTAL VALUES EXERCISE REVISED R2 102018 (class not on Canvas Dashboard as of November 13, 2022).

TypeLogic (N.D.). Retrieved from http://typelogic.com/

Humanmetrics Jung Typology Test (N.D.). Retrieved from https://www.humanmetrics.com/

Koster, B. (2022, October 25). My Dreams and Desires. YellowDig. Retrieved from
https://asu-online.yellowdig.app/community/633e2e5a-0370-3fd4-a455-fa711165e8c8?postId=26455129415760097
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