Grounded Theory

Grounded theory is a qualitative research design in which the researcher generates a general explanation or a theory of a process, action or interaction based on the views of a large number of participants, i.e. theory is grounded in data from the field, not off the shelf (Creswell, 2007, p. 62). Despite the diversity of the collected data, the grounded theory approach presumes it is possible to discover fundamental patterns, or basic social processes, in social life.

The grounded theory procedure includes as follows:

• deciding if the grounded theory is best suited to study the research problem (there is no theory available to explain the problem, or there are available theories but developed on samples and populations other than those of interest to the researcher);
• data collection, typically in one-on-one interviews, from a larger number of individuals who have directly experienced an action, interaction or process. Other forms of data collection may be used such as observations, documents, and audiovisual materials;
• data analysis aimed at forming categories of information by segmenting information, or grouping statements into broad ideas (open coding), while trying to identify the core idea. The researcher carefully reads and re-reads the data, breaking it down into discrete incidents or ideas. Each of these incidents is then given a code – a word or short phrase that represents the essence of that piece of data. Open coding is also where constant comparison begins. As each piece of data is coded, it is compared to other data coded in the same way, and during this stage, categories start to emerge.
• axial coding – the researcher constantly compares data within a category, as well as compares categories to each other. The researcher usually returns to the participants to ask more detailed questions in order to develop or saturate the model.
• selective coding – the researcher has a clear idea of the main categories and how they relate to each other. The researcher connects the categories, discussing the relationships between these categories and the core category. The core category represents the main theme or process that the theory explains.
• developing a theoretical model, with which the study may end or which may be tested later for its empirical verification with quantitative data to determine if it can be generalized to a sample and population.

Both inductive and deductive approach to theory development are used in the grounded theory design because concepts are grounded in data, and hypotheses are tested as they arise from the research (Field & Morse, 1985, p. 23), but theory generation is more important than theory testing. Purposeful sampling is used, i.e. the researcher looks for certain subjects who will be able to shed new light on the phenomenon being studied. Diversity rather than similarity is sought in the participants. Data collection takes place in natural settings, and primarily involves participant observation and interviews. Data collection and analysis occur simultaneously, and new data are constantly compared with the already gathered data through a process called constant comparison.

Theoretical saturation is a critical concept in grounded theory. It refers to the point at which no new insights or concepts can be found in the data, indicating that the categories are well-developed, and that further data collection is unnecessary.

A grounded theory study is challenging in that it requires the researcher to set aside as much as possible theoretical ideas or notions so that that an analytic, substantive theory can emerge. It is difficult to determine when the saturation of the categories is reached or when the theory is sufficiently detailed. One way of ensuring this is discriminant sampling, i.e. gathering additional information from individuals similar to those people initially interviewed to determine if the theory holds true for these additional participants is one way of ensuring this.