1. HLSC2242 Posting 1
Write a short analytic and
reflective commentary
1. What does ‘analytic’ mean?
2. What does ‘explanatory’ mean?
3. What does ‘reflective’ mean?
© Jennifer StGeorge 2018
University of Newcastle, Australia

2. From the Tips document
Identify and discuss one, two or three main ideas or themes* that emerge.
• Look for differences and similarities in what they said (ANALYSIS)
• Explain how these differences and similarities might occur (EXPLANATION)
• Reflect on your own attitudes, and or changes in awareness. (REFLECTION
• Write an analytic, explanatory AND reflective commentary
*Think of a theme as a thread of meaning that seems more important or prominent than the other
ideas in the interview.

3. Analysis: look for differences and similarities
• Aim: find one, two or three ideas, threads or themes within the data. We simply ask you to look
for differences and similarities in what they said.
• You can follow these steps:
• Get familiar with the data (read and re-read).
• Code (label) the prominent, different, similar or interesting ideas across all the data.
• Review the codes to create themes (broader ideas) that might unite the various interesting ideas you have
found.
• Review these themes to make sure they fit the data.
• When writing the summary, create a brief summary of these themes, using SHORT quotes to
support your theme description.
• Throughout my three interviews, two main themes were constantly reoccurring. The first theme
of being ‘the provider’ relates to the second question of “What is difficult about being a man
today?” All interviewees met the question with hesitation and uncertainty, but ultimately all
answers related to their vision of themselves in the workforce and as providers for their family.
Even in the 21st century, these men still felt pressure to be the main financial provider. Even more
interesting was that two of the interviewee’s used the term ‘duty’…

4. Explanation: Explain how these differences
and similarities might occur
• Use the course literature you have read to help you explain your themes – Explain how
these differences and similarities might occur, why that theme might be there, or, what
are the implications of this theme…
• This particular finding is consistent with the point made by Doyle (2000) that elder males “had a
straightforward, or dominant, male model that they could emulate with their behavior, and in so
doing could be fairly comfortable in knowing they were acting out in a true male fashion”.
• Another dominant theme which was seen through the interviews was the differing views on
masculinity and what it was to be a man in today’s society. Good and Brooks (2005) explained that
“men who don’t live up to the rigorous standards of the man-hood code are clearly experiencing
anguish.” This was evident when analysing the responses from my three interviewees.
• One of the central themes discussed by the men was the power they have in today’s society. Men
still earn more money and hold higher positions in most companies (Doyle, 2000). S held this view
the firmest and explained that throughout his life he had always had male bosses and earnt more
than his partner.

5. Reflection: your own attitudes, and or
changes in awareness
• If you are asked to write a reflection on something, it’s looking back in
some way to what you did, to see what you have learned from it.
There are many types of reflection, some very sophisticated. Here we
suggest you simply ask yourself about your own attitudes, and or
changes in awareness.
• These three interviews have opened my eyes to some of the positives and negatives associated with
being a man in today’s society.
• Overall, I was very surprised by the themes that emerged from the three interviews I conducted.
Prior to the interviews my understandings of ‘manhood’ and the role of men in society was one that
mostly strayed from the old stereotypes of men having to be strong, emotionless and the known
head of the family. I thought that society had evolved away from said stereotypes