Transcript Grounded Theory - King's College London

Grounded Theory
Constant
comparative
analysis with data
collected during
research
Generating theory
and doing social
research are two
parts of the same
process
D A
T
A
THEORY
Conceptual Density:
Concept development
depending on deep
familiarity with the data
and regular verification
and analysis
Fluid:
Embrace interaction of
different actors,
emphasize temporality
and process
3 Levels of Analysis
- No interpretation and abstraction of data presentation - participants tell their own story
- Descriptive narrative creation using field notes, interview transcripts & researcher
interpretations
- Building a theory using high levels of interpretation and abstraction
What Grounded Theory is NOT
Reason to ignore the literature
An excuse for absence of methodology
Theory testing, content analysis, or word counts
Presentation of raw data
Organisation & Coding of Data
Field Notes- Taken during observation/research
Memos- Tie data together, ongoing, explain concepts that
appear in data, a quick way to capture thoughts tied to the
emerging theory
Coding- A cyclical, flexible process
Open-looking for patterns/categories, breaking
up data into categories
Axial- linking categories
Selective- categories into theory
Constant Comparison- comparing data, new vs. old,
concepts vs. data, verification process
Theoretical Sampling- locating emerging categories in
transcripts/notes, guides data collection
Theoretical Saturation- no new information is being
discovered
CODING OF DATA
FIELD RESEARCH
MEMO
CONSTANT
OPEN CODING: LOOK FOR PATTERNS/CATEGORIES
AXIAL CODING: LINKING CATEGORIES
COMPARISON
SELECTIVE CODING: CATEGORIES INTO THEORY
THEORY
WRITING
Applying to Data
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Observation
Ethnography
Interviews
Focus Groups
Case Study Material
Documentary Sources
Grounded Theory is best utilized in instances where
there is a large amount of qualitative data that has
formed in unpredictable ways. The researcher creates
meaning of the data through systematic analysis.
(Lawrence, J., & Tar, U., 2013)
Strengths
• Recognized rationale for qualitative research
• Variety of methods available to use (interviews,
observations, survey etc)
• Focus on the practical
• Systematic analysis of data (codes and categories)
• Analysis can use computer software for coding and
sorting of data
• Development of theories from data
• Explanations based on reality and empirical evidence
• Flexibility
Weaknesses
• Inhibits precise planning (cannot predict sample in
advance)
• Researcher bias (researcher influenced by their own
culture and experience)
• Analysis complicated (use of codes and categories)
• Not open to alternative interpretations
• Relies too heavily on empirical data
• Balancing prior knowledge with new concepts
• Generalising potential limited
• Difficult to have a specific time scale of research
Who developed the grounded
theory method?
• Barney Glaser & Anselm Strauss in the 1960s.
• Differed on the details of implementation
• Strauss and Corbin published Basics of
qualitative research: grounded theory
procedures and techniques. Glaser and others
saw this as an “erosion” of the original
methodology
Most Commonly Used Models
1. Classic grounded theory (CGT)
2. Qualitative data analysis (QDA) or ‘Straussian
grounded theory’
3. Constructivist grounded theory
4. Feminist grounded theory
Many researchers “pick and mix” between methods
without explaining differences, leaving readers to
assume they use the same methods of data
analysis.
References
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Charmaz, K. (2000): ‘Grounded Theory: Objectivist and constructivist methods’. In N. Denzin,
& Y. Lincoln, (eds), Handbook of Qualitative Research (pp. 509-535) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
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Denscombe, M. (2003). The Good Research Guide: for small scale research projects.
Maidenhead, PA: Open University Press.
Dillon, D. R. 2012. Grounded Theory and Qualitative Research. The Encyclopedia of Applied
Linguistics.
Evans, G.L. (2013): A novice researcher’s first walk through the maze of grounded theory:
rationalization for classical grounded theory. The Grounded Theory Review, 12: 1 pp. 37-55
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Fernandez, C. (2012): Guest editorial, Themed section. The Grounded Theory Review, 11 (1),
7-28
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Glaser, B. (1978): Theoretical Sensitivity: Advances in the Methodology of Grounded Theory.
Mill Valley, CA: Sociology Press.
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Glaser,B. (1992): Basics of Grounded Theory Analysis: Emergence v Forcing. Mill Valley, CA:
Sociology Press
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Goethals, G.R., Sorenson, G.J., and Burns, J.M.( 2004): Encycopaedia of Leadership Grounded
Theory. Sage Knowledge, pp. 608-612
References Continued
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Goulding, C. (2005). Grounded theory, ethnography and phenomenology. A comparative
analysis of three qualitative strategies for marketing research. European Jounral of
Marketing, 39: 3/4, 294-308.
Lawrence, J., & Tar, U. (2013). The use of Grounded Theory Technique as a Practical Tool for
Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis. Electronic Journal of Business Research
Methods, 11(1).
Suddaby, R. (2006). From the editors: What grounded theory is not. Academy of
management journal, 49(4), 633-642.
Strauss, A. and Corbin, J. (1990): Basics of qualitative research: grounded theory procedures
and techniques London: Sage
Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1994). Grounded theory methodology. Handbook of qualitative
research, 273-285.
Wuest, J. (1995): ‘Feminist grounded theory: and exploration of the congruency and tensions
between two traditions in knowledge discovery’. Qualitative Health Research, 5 (1), 125-137