HEAL ZIMBABWE - BASELINE STUDY REPORT #ThisFlag protesters praying outside the Harare Magistrate Court in solidarity with Pastor Evan Mawarire, 2017. a) Data Collection and Analysis In order to analyse the data, we used thematic analysis given that several themes were emerging from the key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Thematic analysis is used to analyse classify and present themes or patterns emerging from the collected data.23 The method was most appropriate as it allowed the researchers to discover several issues requiring interpretations systematically. Thus “thematic analysis is capable to detect and identify, e.g. factors or variables that influence any issue generated by the participants.”24 The data collected through the questionnaires were analysed by coding and processing the data through the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). Coding was done by creating an SPSS dictionary identifying key themes in the questionnaire and in the narrative text from the respondents. Frequencies of the identified themes were matched with all the responses from the 500 questionnaires and were presented in figures, tables and charts. Differences and similarities clarifying relationships were drawn using the statistical inferences from the SPSS tabulated data. This data strengthened the evidence gathered from key informant interviews and FGDs. Data extracted from FGDs and interviews was analysed using thematic analysis and were presented in the form of explanations and quotations. It is also important to note that respondents in this study report are not all quoted using their real names and in most cases identity is completely removed for the purposes of upholding research ethics and standards, particularly given the sensitive nature of this research topic. Boyatzis, R.E. (1998). Transforming qualitative information: thematic analysis and code development. California, Sage Publications. 24 Alhojailan, M. I. (2012). Thematic analysis: A critical review of its process and evaluation. West East Journal of Social Sciences, 1(1), 39-47. 23 17