Grounded Theory Design

Grounded Theory Design

1. What is Grounded Theory

   • Underpinnings & Assumptions
     • -fits the context as theory derives from research
     • -good for studying a process or group of people
     • -the process is cyclical
       • -information taken in is constantly used to evolve/focus the theory
   • -a theory grounded in the data
     • Sensitive to Context

2. Approach to Data Collection & Analysis

   • 3 Overarching Types
     • Systemic
       • -widely used in education
       • -open coding (general categories)--> axial coding (relate categories to central)--> selective (build theory around categorical relationships)
       • -good for beginning researcher
         • -logical, easy to follow steps
     • Emerging Design
       • -develops out of data, without pre-determined catagories
         • -theory is limited when forced into steps or categories
     • Constructivisit
       • -lived experiences of the participants
       • -narrative
       • -interested in views of individuals over the data
   • Reporting the Data
     • Evaluating the Data and the Report
       • -is the central phenomenon logical? central to the data? frequent? representative?
     • -visual coding - series of hypothesis - narrative
   • Process Approach
     • - frequently examine a process
     • -look at the sequence of actions and interactions
   • Theoretical Sampling
     • -sampling is intentional and focused
   • Constant Comparative
     • -gather data --> sort into categories --> collect additional data --> compare and refine catagories

3. Research Purposes

   • What This May Look Like (Research Questions)
     • -what are the underlying causes of juvenile mortality rates in captive elephants
     • -how does the night and weekend working hours of restaurant workers impact their personal relationships
   • -develop or modify a theory
   • -explain a process
   • -suitable for sensitive topics

4. Critiques of the Design

   • -distinct language & terms not always clearly defined
   • -issues of ethics and power relations between researcher and participants
   • -understanding the intention of the research and who's interests it may serve
   • - due to the varied approaches available for this design it may become confusing as to which approach is being taken, or which approach would be best