# Metaverse Architectures: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of Definitions and Frameworks
## 2 Methodology
### Thematic Analysis
#### 2.2.2 Thematic Analysis Approach  
[PERSON] and [PERSON]'s six-phase methodology was used to conduct the thematic analysis:  
1. Familiarising with the data: Engagement with the dataset involved perusing and revisiting the retrieved metaverse definitions. This phase facilitated a thorough understanding of the literature's scope, terminology, and conceptual framework.
2. Generation of initial codes: The initial codes were generated using a hybrid computational and manual approach. To begin, all 33 definitions were imported into NVivo for qualitative analysis. A word frequency query identified high-frequency lexical items across the corpus of definitions, revealing conceptually salient terms and phrases such as \"immersive\", \"avatar\", \"persistence\", \"virtual\", and interconnected.\" To improve conceptual specificity, a semantic filtering step excluded high-frequency but low-relevance descriptors, including generic terms such as \"digital\", \"environment\", and \"world.\" This refinement enhanced analytical salience by isolating semantically rich vocabulary that reflected distinctive attributes of the metaverse. Each selected term was treated as an initial code and examined for both explicit semantic usage and underlying latent meaning. Conceptually similar codes were consolidated into unified constructs, and lexical variations were normalised to ensure internal consistency. The resulting preliminary codebook consisted of surface-level terms and abstracted conceptual codes, forming the basis for sub-theme generation in the next phase of analysis.
3. Searching for themes: After developing the codebook, initial codes were grouped into sub-themes according to their conceptual similarity and contextual relevance. For instance, codes like \"VR\", \"AR\", \"AI\", and \"blockchain\" were aggregated into a sub-theme pertaining to enabling technologies. This iterative approach involved constant comparison and refinement, guaranteeing that each sub-theme represented a distinct conceptual cluster relevant to the metaverse.  
Figure 2: Word cloud of key term definitions in the literature on the metaverse.  
4. Reviewing themes: Sub-themes were examined across the dataset to ensure internal consistency within themes and distinct demarcations between them. Definitions that did not conform to the evolving thematic framework were reassessed or categorised under updated themes.
5. Defining and naming themes: Sub-themes were developed, designated, and subsequently synthesised into overarching themes that encompass the essential elements of the metaverse as articulated in the literature.
6. Producing the report: The concluding themes were employed to construct a cohesive narrative and thematic representation of metaverse conceptualisation. Themes outlined in Table 2 provide a structured pathway from raw textual data to significant analytical categories. The eight core themes derived from this analysis were: interconnectivity, technological enablers, immersion, persistence, social engagement, multidimensional activities, representation of reality, and economic systems.