The grounded theory

The grounded theory

1. Overview

   • Grounded theory begins with a research situation
   • The task as researcher is to understand what is happening there, and how the players manage their roles
     • through observation, conversation and interview
   • Constant comparison is the heart of the process

2. Hypothesis testing versus emergence

   • Grounded theory has its own sources of rigour
   • There is a continuing search for evidence which disconfirms the emerging theory
   • It is driven by the data in such a way that the final shape of the theory is likely to provide a good fit to the situation

3. Data collection

   • Interviews are frequently the main source of the information
   • But any data collection methods can be used
   • Focus groups

4. Note-taking

   • Take key-word notes during the interviews
     • convert them to themes afterwards
   • Tape-record the interviews

5. Coding

   • * Constant comparison
     • Initially comparing data set to data set;  later comparing data set to theory
   • * Categories and properties
     • A category is a theme or variable which makes sense of what the informant has said
   • * Core category
     • After a time one category will be found to emerge with high frequency of mention, and to be connected to many of the other categories which are emerging
   • * Saturation

6. Sampling

   • The initial sample is likely to be defined by the choice of research situation

7. Memoing

   • A memo is a note to yourself about some hypothesis you have about a category or property, and particularly about relationships between categories

8. Sorting

   • The intention is that their layout in two-dimensional space will capture the structure of the eventual report or thesis

9. Writing up

   • The sort structure is the report structure
   • It is often just a matter of preparing a first draft by typing up the cards in sequence and integrating them into a coherent argument

10. 

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