Grounded Theory

Vahid SaadiHossein Abbassi

Key IdeasDefining Grounded TheoryWhen to use Grounded TheoryKey characteristics of Grounded

Theory researchConducting a grounded theory

studyEvaluating a grounded theory

study

What is grounded theory research?Grounded Theory is developed from

the data, rather than the other way around. This is an inductive approach, meaning that it moves from the specific to the more general- Develop theory based inductively on observation.

Grounded theory is to develop theory that is grounded in data systematically gathered and analyzed.

What is grounded theory research? (2)

There should be a continuous interplay between data collection and analysis.

One does not begin with a theory, then prove it. Rather, one begins with an area of study and what is relevant to that area is allowed to emerge (Straus & Corbin 1990)

HistoryGrounded theory was developed

by two sociologists, Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss. Their collaboration in research on dying hospital patients led them to write the book Awareness of Dying. In this research they developed the constant comparative method later known as Grounded Theory.

Core philosophical principles of Grounded TheoryData is data. You can use both

qualitative or quantitative! Although this form of analysis is usually associated with qualitative studies.

A belief that all data and existing theories are equal. Even supporting studies in existing refereed journals have equality with data freshly collected in the field.

It argues that researchers are not hierarchical, and all researchers’ experiences are valuable.

Why use Grounded Theory?You may be in an area where there is

little or no theory in existence.You may not agree with existing theories.You may want to evolve and take

ownership of a theory over your lifetime.When you want to stay close to the dataYou may want to mix qualitative and

quantitative data.You may want to collect a broad range of

data beyond more structured methods.

Forms of data collectionJust about anything really!Usually involves qualitative data

collection, particularly interviewing.

Grounded Theory studies also tend to feature observations.

Statistical information is usually regarded as secondary source data.

Self reviews and field diaries are also – sometime contentiously – used as data.

GT methodology

The basic elements of grounded theory are:

Codes Concepts Categories propositions

The Process Of Grounded Theory BuildingFive analytic phases of grounded

theory building were identified:

1. Research design2. Data collection3. Data ordering4. Data analysis5. Literature comparison

Data collection

Note-taking Glaser recommends against

recording or taking notes during an interview of other data collection session.

You’ll get more understanding from the extra interviews you could do in the time it would take you to listen to and transcribe a tape recording.

Data ordering

Open Coding: researcher looks for concepts with an open mind and every new theme identified inductively is taken into account and a category system is established

Axial Coding: researcher selects one open coding category and places it at the center as the Central Phenomenon and then relates all other categories to it.

Selective Coding: writing a theory based on the interrelationship of the categories from axial coding

The cycle of analysis

MemoingMemos are notes the researcher writes

throughout the research process to elaborate on ideas about the data and the coded categories. In memos, the researcher explores hunches, ideas, and thoughts, and then takes them apart, always searching for the broader explanations at work in the process.

Glaser makes the point, that memoing is given high priority. As an idea occurs to you, pause in what you are doing and write a memo to yourself. System of cards in the pocket most of the time, for jotting down memos.

SaturationIn collecting and interpreting data

about a particular category, in time you reach a point of diminishing returns.

Eventually your interviews add nothing to what you already know about a category, its properties, and its relationship to the core category.

When this occurs you cease coding for that category

Zig-zag approach to data collection and analysis

Data Collection Data Analysis

Close to SaturatedCategories

ThirdInterview

SecondInterview

FirstInterview

More RefinedCategories

RefinedCategories

PreliminaryCategories

TowardSaturation ofCategories

Constant comparison procedures in data analysis

Category I Category II

Code B Code CCode A

Indicators

Raw Data (e.g. transcripts,field notes, documents)

A Grounded Theory Study of the Mentoring Process Involved With Undergraduate Athletic Training StudentsWilliam A Pitney* and Greg G Ehlers†

I think that for me … [my mentor is] someone that I could go up and ask [a] question to and feel like they could give me the right answer. Somebody that would not try to [make me feel like] I'm so stupid. … Someone that would talk to me on a personal basis, not [indicating] that ‘I'm smarter than you.’ I wouldn't want to feel intimidated.

Concept: Approachabil

ity

Category: Mentor

prerequisites

A Grounded Theory Study of the MentoringCategories:(1) mentoring prerequisites, (2)

interpersonal foundations, and (3) educational dimensions

For example “mentoring prerequisites” includes these concepts:

accessibility, approachability, and protégé initiative

Theoretical proposition

Open coding

So part of it has been good because I can see that I'm not the only one that has good days and bad days, everybody does.

They might not be physical, as much as psychological, but everybody has kind of good days and bad days, as moods and things too.

Recognizing other people’s good and bad days

Qualifying their good and bad days

Viewing good and bad days as universal

Disadvantages of Grounded TheoryFelt by some to be wishy-

washy.Difficult to gain funding, as each

project has no specific beginning or end.

A relatively young and developing method.

It is not developed to test hypotheses.

Inadequate for comparing two theses.

Evaluating a grounded theory study

Is there an obvious connection between the categories and the raw data?

Is the theory useful as a conceptual explanation for the process being studied?

Does the study show how the researcher validated the evolving theory by comparing it to the data, examining how the theory supports or refutes existing theories in the literature, or checking theory with participants?

Does the researcher gather extensive data so as to develop a detailed conceptual theory as well saturated in the data?

ReferencesBarney Glaser: Doing Grounded

Theory Research, The Grounded Theory Perspective, Theoretical Sensitivity.

Strauss & Corbin: Strategies of Qualitative Research.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grounded_theory

Chapters in Lincoln & Denzin’s Qualitative Research and Robson’s Real World Research.

Further sources on Grounded Theory

Charmaz, K., (1994) Grounded Theory: Objectivist and Constructivist Methods in Denzin, N. and Lincoln, Y. (ed.) Handbook of Qualitative Research, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Glaser, B. and Straus, A. L. (1967) The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research, Chicago: Aldine

Strauss, A. and Corbin, J. (1998) Basics of Qualitative Research: Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory, Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.