Grounded Theory12/02/2006

Define Grounded TheoryGrounded theory, in contrast to theory obtained by logico-deductive methods, is theory grounded in data which have been systematically obtained and analyzed through social research (Goulding, 2005).

The role of grounded theory was, and is, the careful and systematic study of the relationship of the individuals experienced to society and history (Goulding, 1998).

Grounded theory requires the recognition that enquiry is always context bound and facts should be viewed as both theory laden and value laden.

The Influence of Symbolic InteractionSymbolic interactionism is both a theory of human behavior and an approach to enquiry about human conduct and group behavior.The classic symbolic interactionism is a micro-sociological theory, focuses on the nature of individual in society and the relationships between individual perceptions, collective action and society (Annells, 1996)

Basic Principles of Developing theory by Grounded Theory1.enable prediction and explanation of behavior2. be useful in theoretical advances in sociology3. be applicable in practice4. provide a perspective on behavior5. guide and provide a style for research on particular areas of behavior6. provide clear enough categories and hypotheses so that crucial ones can be verified in present and future research

Differences between GT and Other Qualitative ToolsGT emphasizes on theory development and building

GT has a built-in mandate to strive towards verification through the process of category saturation.

* This involves staying in the field until no further evidence emerges.

* Verifications is done throughout the course of the research project, rather than assuming that verification is only possible through follow-up quantitative data.

The Nature and Role of TheoryA theory is a set of relationships that offer a plausible explanation of the phenomenon under study. Theorizing is the process of constructing alternative explanations until a best fit that explains the data most simply is obtained.

Level of theory building: Substantive theory: developed from work in a specific area, such as a particular type of organization. Formal, has explanatory power across a range of situation. Less popular

Data CollectionIdentification of an area of interest Usually researchers adopt grounded theory when the topic of interest has been relatively ignored in the literature or has been given only superficial attention.

Sources of data: 1. Secondary data: less time consuming, but is lack of control in generating the data 2. Life history as data

3. Interviews: face to face and unstructured are most common data source key consideration for interviewing * assess the setting * Understand the language and culture of the respondents * Decide on how to present oneself * Locate informant * Gain trust * Establish rapport4. Focus Group5. Observation6. Survey

Glasers Five Types of DataBaseline: factualInterpreted: HowProperline: involves people choosing expressions to support a particular line, e.g. postmodernVague: imprecise, may simply require further investigation, or may be deliberately vague in order to conceal an aspect of behavior.Conceptual: usually involve an ungrounded opinion or hypothesis, e.g. becoming self-indulgent

The Use of MemosCould be used for any format of data collection.The key stage in the process, and without using it theoretically to write up ideas the researcher is not in fact doing grounded theory (Glaser, 1978)Can be a few lines or several pages longEach memo should be introduced by a title or a caption, which is usually a category or a concept.Helps to generate relationships, abstract integrative frameworks, and more general problems. Memos are also an excellent source of direction for future theoretical sampling

Advice on Using Memos1. always give priority to memoing2. Memoing should begin as soon as the first field data start coming in, and usually should continue right up the production of the final report.3. Memos are about ideas and are used as indicators for an analysis that is set in a conceptual frame.4. Dont standardize memo formats or types, especially in a multi-researcher study.5. Memo writing is fun, often provides sharp, sunlit moments of clarity or insight.

Theoretical SamplingResearcher doesnt know in advance what to sample for and where it will lead. Samples are chosen when they are needed rather than before the research

Constant ComparisonA fundamental feature of GT, to look for patterns and themes.Comparison explores differences and similarities across incidents within the data currently collected and provides guidelines for collecting additional data.This requires a different, more sophisticated, coding technique which is commonly referred to as axial coding and involves the process of abstraction onto a theoretical level.

Reaching SaturationThe researcher must ensure constant comparison is an ongoing feature of the process. Theoretical saturation is achieved through staying in the field until no new evidence emerge which can inform or underpin the development of a theoretical point. Use the literature to enhance theoretical sensitivity.

Interpreting the Data by Using Coding StrategiesOpen Coding * the initial stage of constant comparison during which the data are scrutinized for every possible meaning * starts while writing memos * breaking down the data into distinct units of meanings * starts with a full transcription of an interview, after which the text is analyzed line by line in an attempt to identify key words or phrases which connect the informants account to the experience under investigation.

Open Coding

These labels refer to things like hospitals, information gathering, friendship, social loss, etc. They are the nouns and verbs of a conceptual world. Some are also adjectives and adverbs --- the properties of these categories.

examplePain relief is a major problem when you have arthritis. Sometimes, the pain is worse than other times, but when it gets really bad, whew! It hurts so bad, you don't want to get out of bed. You don't feel like doing anything. Any relief you get from drugs that you take is only temporary or partial. PAININTENSITYPAIN RELIEF. One AGENT OF PAIN RELIEF is drugsPain relief has a certain DURATION (could be temporary), and EFFECTIVENESS (could be partial).

Axial CodingHigher level of abstractionIs achieved by specifying relationships and delineating a core category or construct around which the other concepts revolve.

Axial CodingIntegration of theoretical concepts into a conceptually complex integrated theory.Theoretically relevant questions: 1. What are the strategies which result in particular behaviors? 2. What are the difference conditions involved? 3. What kind of theoretically derived comparisons would be useful there?

ElementDescriptionPhenomenon In grounded theory it is sometimes the outcome of interest, or it can be the subject. Causal conditions These are the events or variables that lead to the occurrence or development of the phenomenon. It is a set of causes and their properties.

Context Hard to distinguish from the causal conditions. It is the specific locations (values) of background variables. A set of conditions influencing the action/strategy. Researchers often make a quaint distinction between active variables (causes) and background variables (context). It has more to do with what the researcher finds interesting (causes) and less interesting (context) than with distinctions out in nature. Intervening conditions Similar to context. If we like, we can identify context with moderating variables and intervening conditions with mediating variables. But it is not clear that grounded theorists cleanly distinguish between these two. Action strategiesThe purposeful, goal-oriented activities that agents perform in response to the phenomenon and intervening conditions. ConsequencesThese are the consequences of the action strategies, intended and unintended.

In the text segment above, it seems obvious that the phenomenon of interest is pain, the causal conditions are arthritis , the action strategy is taking drugs, and the consequence is pain relief. Note that grounded theorists don't show much interest in the consequences of the phenomenon itself.

Selective Coding: Developing Core Categorythe process of choosing one category to be the core category, and relating all other categories to that category. The essential idea is to develop a single storyline around which all everything else is draped. There is a belief that such a core concept always exists.

The Criteria of Selecting Core CategoryIt must be central and account for a large proportion of behaviorIt must be based on reoccurrence in the dataA core category takes longer to saturate than other categories/conceptsIt must related meaningfully to other categoriesIt should have clear implications for the development of formal theoryThe theoretical analysis should e based on the core categoryIt should be highly variable and modifiable (?)

Ensure Credibility through Member CheckingWriting Theory Present data as efficient for conclusions, indicating how the analyst obtained theory from the data. Use characteristic illustrations and diagrams to convey the message.

A Great Example of Grounded Theory Research Goulding, 2005, Chapters 5-6