Grounded theory has become the most widely used framework for systematically analyzing qualitative data in social sciences. In its most recent incarnation, grounded theory has been defined as a ‘theory derived from data, systematically derived and analyzed through the research process.
In this method, data collection, analysis, and eventual theory are closely related (Strauss and Corbin 1988). It is a research method that operates almost in a reverse fashion from traditional research and, at first, may appear to be in contradiction to scientific methods.
Rather than beginning by researching and developing a hypothesis, the first step consists of collecting data about a single subject without any preconceived idea concerning its content or structure through various methods.
The data set is then content analyzed, and the key points are marked with codes. The codes are then grouped into similar concepts to make them more workable.
These concepts form categories, the basis for creating a theory or reverse-engineered hypothesis.
This contradicts the traditional model of research, where the researcher selects a theoretical framework and only then applies this model to the phenomenon under study.
The nature of the grounded theory makes this an inductive approach, moving from the specific to the more general.
The method of study is mostly based on three elements: concepts, categories, and propositions, or what is mainly called a hypothesis.
However, concepts are the key elements of analysis since the theory is developed from the conceptualization of data rather than the actual data.
The primary objective of grounded theory is to expand upon an explanation of a phenomenon by identifying the key elements of that phenomenon and then categorizing the relationships of those elements to the context and progress of the experiment.
What is the primary purpose of grounded theory?
Grounded theory is introduced as an inductive, comparative methodology that provides systematic guidelines for gathering, synthesizing, analyzing, and conceptualizing qualitative data for the purpose of theory construction.
Who are the founders of grounded theory and what did they offer?
The founders of grounded theory are Barney G. Glaser and Anselm L. Strauss. They offered the first explicit, codified statement of how to analyze qualitative data, combining Chicago School pragmatism, symbolic interactionism, field research, survey research, and other methodologies.
How is Grounded Theory introduced?
Grounded theory is introduced as an inductive, comparative methodology that provides systematic guidelines for gathering, synthesizing, analyzing, and conceptualizing qualitative data for the purpose of theory construction.
How does constructivist grounded theory differ from objectivist grounded theory?
Objectivist grounded theory assumes the reality of an external world, a neutral observer, and views categories as derived from data. Constructivist grounded theory, on the other hand, prioritizes the studied phenomenon over the methods, uses grounded theory strategies as tools, not prescriptions, and acknowledges the researcher’s role in interpreting data and creating categories.
What are the future directions of Grounded Theory in educational research?
Grounded theory offers educational researchers a method that complements varied forms of qualitative data collection. Adopting more grounded theory strategies will enable educational researchers to further the theoretical reach of their studies and make tacit meanings and processes explicit.
Grounded theory can make ethnography more analytic, interview research more in-depth, and content analysis more focused. It emphasizes focusing on data collection and checking and developing analytic ideas, providing tools for building strong evidence within the analysis and explicating processes.
What are the intellectual traditions of the founders of Grounded Theory?
The founders of grounded theory, Barney G. Glaser and Anselm L. Strauss, brought distinct intellectual traditions. Strauss brought Chicago School pragmatism, symbolic interactionism, and field research to grounded theory. In contrast, Glaser’s training in survey research gave the method its systematic approach, positivist proclivities, and procedural language.
What are the three major strategies involved in grounded theory?
The three major grounded theory strategies are coding, memo making, and theoretical sampling.
How does grounded theory benefit educational researchers?
Grounded theory offers educational researchers a method that complements varied forms of qualitative data collection and expedites their work. It helps in making tacit meanings and processes explicit, making ethnography more analytic, interview research more in-depth, and content analysis more focused.
What is the significance of coding in grounded theory?
In grounded theory, coding is essential to conceptualize the data by discovering categories into which they fit. The coding process has three phases: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding, which help in developing a theoretical sensitivity to new ideas and understanding the data.
How does grounded theory view the relationship between data gathering and data analysis?
In grounded theory, data gathering and data analysis are interactive. From the time data collection begins, grounded theorists engage in data analysis, which leads to further data collection, subsequent data analysis, and so on.