Adapted from a presentation by C.J. Port & Dylan Valenzuela Grounded Theory Adapted from a presentation by C.J. Port & Dylan Valenzuela

What is Grounded Theory Research? Type of Qualitative research; goal is to discover an existing theory or generate a new theory that results directly from the data. Theories are not generated or stated prior to the beginning of the study, but are developed inductively from the data collected or analyzed during the study itself.

Why Grounded Theory Research? Strengths: Grounded Theory uses a systematic set of procedures to develop an inductively derived grounded theory about a phenomenon. The primary objective 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 process of the experiment. The goal is to go from the general to the specific without losing sight of what makes the subject of a study unique.

Why Grounded Theory Research? Concerns: Grounded Theory was developed in a period when other qualitative methods were often considered not scientific and became the main qualitative method mostly accepted as academic enough. Qualitative Research is often equated to Grounded Theory. Thus, it is criticized by qualitative researchers using other methodologies (such as traditional ethnography, narratology, storytelling, etc.).

Facts about Grounded Theory Theory is emergent rather than predefined. Theory emerges from data rather than vice versa. A “grounded” theory is a systematic theory, developed using theoretical sampling, coding, constant comparison, the identification of a core variable, and saturation.

Steps to Analyzing Data in Grounded Theory Research Decide the codes to be used in the analysis Construct the categories for analysis Conduct the coding and categorizing of the data Conduct the data analysis Summarizing Make speculative inferences Development of the grounded theory

Theoretical Sampling Before conducting the 7 steps for grounded theory, data collection must be completed Grounded Theory research uses theoretical sampling, in which data collection continues until sufficient data have been gathered to create a theoretical explanation of what is happening and its key features. It is the methods of analysis which really "define" Grounded Theory Research, which separates it from other methods of research.

Types of Data Analysis: 3. Coding Open Coding Axial Coding Selective Coding 4. Constant Comparison Core Variable Saturation

3. What is coding? Coding is the process of disassembling and reassembling the data. These fragments are then rearranged, through coding, to produce a new understanding that explores similarities, differences, across a number of different cases.

3. Coding Open Coding: Exploring the data and identifying units of analysis to code for meanings, feelings, actions, events, etc. Researcher codes data, creates new codes, categories, and subcategories where necessary, and integrates codes where relevant until coding is complete

3. Coding-cont. Axial Coding: - Makes links between categories and codes - Integrates codes around the axes of central categories Purpose: To interconnect categories of data

3. Coding-cont. Selective Coding: - A core code is identified - The relationship between that core code and other codes is made clear, - The coding scheme is compared with preexisting theory.

4. Data Analysis: Constant Comparison -The researcher compares the new data with existing data and categories, so that the categories achieve a perfect fit with the data. - The process by which the properties and categories across the data are compared continuously until no more variation occurs, i.e. saturation is reached

4. Data Analysis: Constant Comparison-cont. Core Variable: - The variable which accounts for most of the data. - The variable around which the most data are focused.

4. Data Analysis: Constant Comparison-cont. Saturation: When no new insights, codes, or categories are produced even when new data are added, and when all data are accounted for in the core categories and sub-categories.

Steps of Grounded Theory Research- Revisited: 1) Decide the codes to be used in the analysis - Open coding - Axial coding - Selective coding 2) Construct the categories for analysis 3) Conduct the coding and categorizing of the data

Steps: 4) Conduct the data analysis - Constant Comparison - Core Variables - Saturation 5) Summarize your findings

Steps: 6) Make speculative inferences - Examine data and make a speculation of why the data were produced 7) Development of the Grounded Theory - After completing the steps for creating a grounded theory, that theory emerges from the data in an unforced manner, accounting for all of the data