Grounded Theory

Presented by:
Genesis Dela Cruz &
Raymund John Ang
Definition
GROUNDED THEORY
It is a systematic,
qualitative procedure used to
generate a theory that
explains at a broad conceptual
level, a process, an action or
an interaction about a
substantive topic.

Image: https://drkriukow.com/constructivist-grounded-theory/
Origin
● Barney G. Glaser and
Anselm L. Strauss
developed Grounded Theory
in late 1960.

● Glaser and Strauss

developed a pioneering
book that expounded in
detail “THE DISCOVERY OF
GROUNDED THEORY” (1967).

Image: https://slideplayer.com/
Defining Features
Grounded Theory has considerable significance:

A. Provides explicit, sequential guidelines for conductive

qualitative research
B. Offers specific strategies for handling the analytic
phases of inquiry
C. Streamlines and integrates data collection and analysis
D. Advances conceptual analysis of quantitative data
E. Legitimizes qualitative research as scientific inquiry.
Methods

The basic data of the

grounded theory approach is
to read a textual database
and discover or label
variables ( categories,
concepts and properties) and
their interrelationships.

Image: https://www.dataversity.net/relationships-data-management/
Types
1. Systematic Design - emphasized the use of data analysis,
steps of open, axial and selective coding.

2. Emerging Design - importance of letting a theory emerge

from data rather than using specific, preset categories.

3. Constructivist Approach - emphasized the importance of

individual attribute.
Writing and Interrelating the Research Problem, Purpose
and Questions
● Research focus of approach - Developing a theory grounded in
data from the field.
● Unit of analysis - Studying a process, an action, or an
interaction involving many individuals.
● Type of research problem - Grounding a theory in the views of
participants
● Nature of disciplinary origins - Drawing from Sociology
● Forms of data collection - Using primarily interviews with 20
to 60 individuals
● Strategies of data analysis - open, axial and selective coding
Canons and Procedures (Corbin & Strauss, 1990)
1. Data Collection and Analysis are Interrelated Processes - In
grounded theory, the analysis begins as soon as the first bit of
data is collected. By contrast, many qualitative researchers
collect much of their data prior to beginning systematic analysis.
2. Concepts Are the Basic Units of Analysis - A theorist works with
conceptualizations of data, not the actual data per se. Theories
can't be built with actual incidents or activities as observed or
reported; that is, from "raw data."
3. Categories Must Be Developed and Related - Concepts that pertain to
the same phenomenon may be grouped to form categories. Not all
concepts become categories. Categories are higher in level and more
abstract than the concepts they represent.
Canons and Procedures (Corbin & Strauss, 1990)
4. Sampling in Grounded Theory Proceeds on Theoretical Grounds -
Sampling in grounded theory proceeds not in terms of drawing
samples of specific groups of individuals, units of time, and
so on, but in terms of concepts, their properties, dimensions,
and variations.
5. Analysis Makes Use of Constant Comparisons - As an incident is
noted, it should be compared against other incidents for
similarities and differences. The resulting concepts are
labeled as such, and over time, they are compared and grouped
as previously described.
6. Patterns and Variations Must Be Accounted For - The data must
be examined for regularity and for an understanding of where
that regularity is not apparent.
Canons and Procedures (Corbin & Strauss, 1990)
7. Process Must Be Built Into the Theory - In grounded
theory, process has several meanings. Process analysis
can mean breaking a phenomenon down into stages, phases,
or steps. Process may also denote purposeful
action/interaction that is not necessarily progressive,
but changes in response to prevailing conditions.
8. Writing Theoretical Memos Is an Integral Part of Doing
Grounded Theory - Since the analyst cannot readily keep
track of all the categories, properties, hypotheses, and
generative questions that evolve from the analytical
process, there must be a system for doing so.
 Canons and Procedures (Corbin & Strauss, 1990)
9. Hypotheses About Relationships among Categories Should Be Developed
and Verified as Much as Possible during the Research Process -
As hypotheses about relationships among categories are developed,
they should be taken back into the field for checking out and
revision as needed.
10. A Grounded Theorist Need Not Work Alone - For many who use the
grounded theory approach, an important part of research is testing
concepts and their relationships with colleagues who have
experience in the same substantive area. Opening up one's analysis
to the scrutiny of others helps guard against bias.
11. Broader Structural Conditions Must Be Analyzed, However
Microscopic the Research - The analysis of a setting must not be
restricted to the conditions that bear immediately on the
phenomenon of central interest.
Coding
A code in qualitative inquiry is
most often a word or short phrase
that symbolically assigns a
summative, salient, essence-
capturing, and/or evocative
attribute for a portion of
language-based or visual data. The
data can consist of interview
transcripts, participant
observation field notes, journals,
documents, literature, artifacts, Image:
photographs, video, websites, https://delvetool.com/blog/openax
e-mail correspondence, and so on ialselective
(Saldaña, 2021).
Coding - Grounded Theory (Corbin & Strauss, 1990)
1. Open Coding - Interpretive process by which data are broken down analytically. Its purpose
is to give the analyst new insights by breaking through standard ways of thinking about or
interpreting phenomena reflected in the data.

Researcher: Ask specific and consistent questions to the data. Code precisely. Write
reflections and memos. Minimize assumptions.

2. Axial Coding - Categories are related to their subcategories, and the relationships tested
against data. Also, further development of categories takes place and one continues to look
for indications of them. Through the "coding paradigm" of conditions, context, strategies
(action/interaction), and consequences, subcategories are related to a category.

Explore four properties: Conditions, Context, Consequences and Strategies (action and
interaction)

3. Selective Coding - All categories are unified around a "core" category, and categories that
need further explication are filled in with descriptive detail. This type of coding is
likely to occur in the later phases of a study.
Illustration by Kim Boes - The cultural heritage experience of visually impaired
tourists: An Insight beyond sight
Williams, M., & Moser, T. (2019). The Art of Coding and Thematic Exploration in Qualitative
Research. International Management Review, 15, 45.
Kenny, M., & Fourie, R. (2015).
Contrasting classic, Straussian, and
constructivist grounded theory:
Methodological and philosophical
conflicts. The Qualitative Report,
20(8), 1270-1289.
Challenges
1. Since there are multiple approaches to Grounded Theory (GT), the
researchers must first decide which type of GT to adopt (i.e.
Classic, Straussian and Constructivist). The researchers need to be
skillful in using grounded theory methods.
2. Grounded theory methods tend to produce large amounts of data,
often difficult to manage. The process can be exhaustive.
3. There may be high potential for methodological error (e.g. use of
purposeful sampling all throughout the study instead of theoretical
sampling).
4. There may be problems associated with reviewing the literature
without developing assumptions.
5. There are no standard rules to follow for the identification of
categories.
6. There is limited generalizability.
Chun Tie, Y., Birks, M., &
Francis, K. (2019).
Grounded theory research: A
design framework for novice
researchers. SAGE Open
Medicine, 7,
2050312118822927.
References
Chun Tie, Y., Birks, M., & Francis, K. (2019). Grounded theory research: A design
framework for novice researchers. SAGE Open Medicine, 7, 2050312118822927.

Corbin, J. M., & Strauss, A. (1990). Grounded theory research: Procedures, canons, and
evaluative criteria. Qualitative Sociology, 13(1), 3-21.

Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2016). Qualitative inquiry and research design:
Choosing among five approaches. Sage Publications.

El Hussein, M., Hirst, S., Salyers, V., & Osuji, J. (2014). Using grounded theory as a
method of inquiry: Advantages and disadvantages. Qualitative Report, 19(27).

Kenny, M., & Fourie, R. (2015). Contrasting classic, Straussian, and constructivist
grounded theory: Methodological and philosophical conflicts. The Qualitative
Report, 20(8), 1270-1289.
Noble, H., & Mitchell, G. (2016). What is grounded theory?.
Evidence-Based Nursing, 19(2), 34-35.

Research Methods and Statistics. (2016, September 11). 5.6 Versions of

grounded theory | Qualitative Methods | Qualitative Analysis | UvA
[Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX42ld18kao

Saldaña, J. (2021). The coding manual for qualitative researchers.

sage.

Temple University (2021). Advantages and Disadvantages - Qualitative

Research: Grounded Theory. Temple University Libraries.
https://guides.temple.edu/c.php?g=77914&p=505635

Timonen, V., Foley, G., & Conlon, C. (2018). Challenges when using
grounded theory: A pragmatic introduction to doing GT research.
International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 17(1),
1609406918758086.