Grounded Theory Research

Grounded theory is a qualitative research design in which the inquirer generates a general explanation or theory of a process, action, or interaction shaped by the views of a large number of participants.

TYPES OF GROUNDED THEORY STUDIES

Systematic Procedure

• Explains a process, action, or interaction on a topic in a systematic way

• The researcher conducts several interviews in the field to saturate the category, which is a representation of a unit of information composed of events, happenings, and instances

• Information goes through a constant comparative method wherein it is constantly compared to emerging categories:

  1. Open coding by categorizing information into major categories

  2. Axial coding by identifying what will be the core phenomenon based on the categories developed from open coding

  3. Create categories around the core phenomenon that forms the visual model called the axial coding paradigm

  4. Selective coding by forming hypotheses that connect all the categories in the model

  5. The researcher can also develop a conditional matrix, which forms connections between conditions that influence the phenomenon

Constructivist Approach

• Recognizes and emphasizes complexities and diversity unlike systematic procedures which focus on a single process or a core category

• Has flexible guidelines

• Depends on the researcher's view

• Focused more on the individual rather than the research method

Procedures for Conducting Grounded Theory Research

1. Determine if the research problem fits this approach, which is best used when there is no available theory to explain a process, or an existing theory does not explain a particular concern entirely.

2. Ask the participants about what the process is exactly and how they experienced it.

3. Data collection can also be done through other means aside from interviews as long as the model gets completely saturated.

4. Conduct open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. The researcher also has an option to create a conditional matrix. A substantive-level theory is formed that can be guided by writing down the ideas formed about the developing theory throughout the process of open, axial, and selective coding.

5. The researcher has an option to evaluate it through quantitative means to find out if it applies to both the sample and the population.

CHALLENGES

• The researcher needs to set aside theoretical ideas so that the analytic, substantive theory can emerge.

• It can be difficult to determine when categories are saturated or when the theory is sufficiently detailed.

• The systematic approach can be a challenge in itself because of the prescribed categories of information which may not afford the flexibility desired by some qualitative researchers.