Braun and Clarke provide a general guideline in 2006 and updated recently with reflexive thematic analysis. Their guidelines can be used by you if it fits your purpose/aims and answers your questions. Two key points: Thematic analysis is not parametric analysis; decisions and methods must be selected, and there is flexibility. Secondly, a theoretical and/or conceptual framework should be rooted in the research and literature of your problem.

Braun and Clarke have become much more specific about what they now consider to be different versions of thematic analysis, so you should consult their 2022 book. In particular, their preferred version, which they call Reflexive Thematic Analysis, would not allow you to use a prior theoretical framework.

Here is a great discussion on deductive versus inductive on Researchgate.

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Inductive_Deductive_Hybrid_Thematic_Analysis_in_Qualitative_research/1

There is some disagreement here. Braun and Clarke, like hermeneutical phenomenology not grounded theory, believe in researcher instrumentality. That means the researcher will bring their positionality and theoretical framework to any study (see pp. 45 & 56 in the 2021 book). A great quote is the following: “theoretical flexibility” (p. 4). The authors further state in 2019: “researcher’s position and contribution is necessary, unavoidable, and an integral ingredient of the process.”

My advice: Braun and Clarke explicitly believe inductive-deductive is a continuum (see my link in the previous post). But here’s the point: Even if they didn’t, researchers should adopt and adapt to an optimal way to carry out their study. All researchers are deductive to a point, though some deny it.

I agree that all researchers are have prior beliefs that influence their work, but I think this is precisely why Braun and Clarke choose to add the word "reflective" to their preferred form of thematic analysis -- so that one can reduce the extent to which factors external to the data influence the researcher's analysis process.

This strikes me directly opposite to using a theoretical framework, especially right from the start.

Thank you very much for the helpful advice! David Coker and David L Morgan ... I agree that Braun and Clarke reflexive thematic analysis is a flexible approach (as pointed out by them). I plan to use my theoretical framework as a starting point, but also be open to new ideas that emerge from the data. I'll try to be more cautious of my own perspective throughout the analysis.

II think that Braun and Clarke would agree that the broader concept to thematic analysis is flexible, but my reading is that they are quite protective of their own version of reflexive thematic analysis. In particular, their version would not allow for a theoretical framework as a starting point.

So, I strongly suggest that your read their 2022 book and choose one of the other alternative versions of thematic analysis that they discuss.