Grounded

Theory
Group 2
 Grounded theory The self-defined purpose of grounded theory
is to develop theory about phenomena of interest. But this is not
just abstract theorizing they're talking about. Instead
the theory needs to be grounded or rooted in observation -- hence
the term.
Grounded theory is a complex iterative process. The research
begins with the raising of generative questions which help to guide
the research but are not intended to be either static or confining.
As the researcher begins to gather data, core theoretical
concept(s) are identified. Tentative linkages are developed
between the theoretical core concepts and the data. This early
phase of the research tends to be very open and can take months.
Later on the researcher is more engaged in verification and
summary. The effort tends to evolve toward one core category that
is central.
Grounded theory method is a systematic generation of
theory from data that contains both inductive and
deductive thinking. One goal is to formulate
hypotheses based on conceptual ideas. Others may try
to verify the hypotheses that are generated by
constantly comparing conceptualized data. Another
goal of a grounded theory study is to discover the
participants' main concern and how they continually
try to resolve it. The questions the researcher
repeatedly asks in grounded theory are "What's going
on?" and "What is the main problem of the
participants, and how are they trying to solve it?"
Stages of Analysis
Stage Purpose

Identifying anchors that allow the key

Codes points of the data to be gathered

Collections of codes of similar content

Concepts that allows the data to be grouped

Broad groups of similar concepts that

Categories are used to generate a theory

A collection of categories that detail

Theory the subject of the research
Coding text and theorizing: In grounded
theory research, the search for the theory starts with
the very first line of the very first interview that one
codes. It involves taking a small chunk of the text
where line by line is being coded. Useful concepts are
being identified where key phrases are being marked.
This process is breaking data into conceptual
components. This involves the constant comparative
method and it goes on throughout the grounding theory
process, right up through the development of complete
theories.
Memoing and theorizing: Memoing is the
process by which the running notes of each of the
concepts that are being identified are kept. It is the
intermediate step between the coding and the first
draft of the completed analysis. Memos are field notes
about the concepts in which one lays out their
observations and insights. Memoing starts with the
first concept that has been identified and continues
right through the process of breaking the text and of
building theories.
Integrating, refining and writing up
theories: Once coding categories emerge, the next
step is to link them together in theoretical models
around a central category that hold everything
together. The constant comparative method comes
into play, along with negative case analysis which looks
for cases that do not confirm the model. Basically one
generates a model about how whatever one is studying
works right from the first interview and see if the
model holds up as one analyze more interviews.
Benefits of using Grounded Theory
The benefits of using grounded theory include:

 Ecological validity: Ecological validity is the extent to which research findings

accurately represent real-world settings. Grounded theories are usually
ecologically valid because they are similar to the data from which they were
established. Although the constructs in a grounded theory are appropriately
abstract (since their goal is to explain other similar phenomenon), they are
context-specific, detailed, and tightly connected to the data.
 Novelty: Because grounded theories are not tied to any preexisting theory,
grounded theories are often fresh and new and have the potential for
innovative discoveries in science and other areas.
 Parsimony: Parsimony involves using the simplest possible definition to
explain complex phenomenon. Grounded theories aim to provide practical and
simple explanations about complex phenomena by converting them into
abstract constructs and hypothesizing their relationships. They offer helpful
and relatively easy-to-remember layouts for us to understand our world a little
bit better.
When do we use Grounded Theory?
- When you need a broad theory or explanation
of a process; especially helpful when current theories
about a phenomenon are either inadequate or
nonexistent (Creswell,2008) ; when you wish to study
some process, such as how students develop as writers
(Neff,1998)