Bringing the theoretical domains framework into applied linguistics: a worked example

The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) is introduced in this paper to applied linguistics research methods, working through its operationalisation using higher-education leadership interview discourse. Semi-structured interviews with senior stakeholders from one university each in Malaysia and Japan were analysed through a two-stage procedure: an initial inductive thematic analysis followed by systematic deductive mapping of participant statements onto the fourteen TDF domains, which can be aligned with the COM-B constructs of capability, opportunity, and motivation. The paper documents practical decisions about domain boundaries, instances of double-domain alignment, and the treatment of segments judged too speculative to code, focusing on how behavioural constructs can be integrated critically with qualitative language data. The paper suggests the framework’s value as a methods-first bridge for analysing a wide range of discourse in applied linguistics, providing transparent, adaptable coding steps for studies of policy, practice, identity, and digital change across varied contexts.