Data will be analyzed through Thematic Analysis

Data analysis is an essential process in qualitative research that involves interpreting and collecting non$-$numeric data, such as interview transcripts, observations, and textual documents. Qualitative research has become prevalent in the academic discipline as it provides in$-$depth insights into human experiences, behaviours, and perspectives that cannot be easily captured through quantitative methods $($Qualitative Data Analysis Services: Textual Analysis, $2023).$ Thematic Analysis and Grounded Theory are two frequently used methods for analyzing qualitative data. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of each item:

$1.$ Thematic Analysis

Thematic Analysis is a widely used method for identifying, analyzing, and reporting patterns within data. It is flexible and can be used across a range of theoretical frameworks. The main advantages of this approach lie in its adaptability to various theoretical frameworks and its capacity to concisely capture the essential characteristics of extensive datasets $($Lochmiller$,2021).$

$2.$ Grounded Theory

Grounded Theory is a systematic methodology that involves developing theories through a methodical gathering and analysis of data. In comparison to Thematic Analysis, Grounded Theory aims to generate or uncover a theory. This approach heavily relies on data and effectively minimizes researcher bias. It can produce theories that closely align with the actual observations in the data $($Makri and Neely, $2021)$ and $($Pickard$,2018).$

For the researcher$$s study, evaluating the effectiveness of the NC$($V$)$ programme in achieving industrial skills development, Thematic Analysis is ideal and is selected over the grounded theory for identifying common themes and patterns in student experiences, feedback from instructors, and industry needs. please provide steps in thematic analysis $($make sure that you reference them$)$ and apply them in the context of your study.