GROUNDED

THEORY
GROUNDED THEORY
GROUNDED THEORY ISN’T
IS
• A methodology and analytical • Grounded Theory is not
approach for developing theory journalism*
that is grounded in your data
• Grounded Theory is not a
• A generative process quantitative analysis*

• An opportunity to learn more than • Grounded Theory is not an

the sum of your data excuse

• An opposition to read-then-do-
then-write (Crang & Cook,
2007)? y –
T he o r
un d ed m ?
*G ro
J o u rn a l i s
t i t aet i v
Qu a n
 Quantitative
Controlled
Theory testing
Positivism
Repeatable
Objectively given Measurable

Understanding influence
Ability to change social
Interpreting phenomena circumstance is limited by social
by the meanings people attribute constructs
Conflict-oriented
Interpretivism Critical Research
Reality is accessed through
Human sense-making Social reality is carried by people
social constructions Seeks to solve
Context sensitive
 GT ANALYSIS: MAIN
ELEMENTS
1. Concept-Indicator Model 6. Comparisons

2. Data Collection 7. Theoretical Saturation

3. Coding 8. Integration of the Theory

4. Core Categories 9.Theoretical Memos

5. Theoretical Sampling 10.Theoretical Sorting

(Strauss 1987, p. 23)

 TRANSCRIBING
• Accurate and precise data forms
the crucial base of GT analysis

• Accuracy – Nuances

• “Transcribing sucks”

• Deal w/ it! “ M y fi rs t fully

transcribed int e
1 : 2 6: 5 6 – 2 5 p a
ges – 11.009
r v ie w ”
words
• Use a good template
… one o f man
y.
 OPEN CODING
“ Coding. The general term
for conceptualizing data; thus,
coding
includes raising questions and
• Analyze and assign codes to your data
g i v i n g p r o v i s i o n a n s we r • Use constructed codes or in vivo codes
(hypotheses)
al about categories
s
and about their relations. A code is • Coding paradigms (Strauss 1987, p.
the term for any product of this 27-28)
analysis (whether category
or a relation between two • conditions
or more categories).” (Strauss • interaction among the actors
1987, p. 20) • strategies and tactics
• consequences
 THEM-
US
externality
contro
l
“ F r o m t h e s t an d po i n t o f t h e u s e r , o f b u
t hc oe ucrhs ae l;l e n g e i T h e r e a r e a l way s s u g g e s t i ot , externality
does not fit cs o: mi n g i n f r o m u ns se r s , subjectively,
me counter-
misfi " I w a n t fi rt ot mh i s way.
t h e ” A nu ds etrh: e n y o u h a v e an o t h e
tradition
t
inappropriatene u s e r w h o w a n t s e x a c rt l y t h e s a m e , b u t i n an o t h e
ss rw ay, an d t h e n y o u h a v e a t h i r d u s e r t h a t w a n t distancing
ts h e s a m e b u t i n a t h i r d way. We h a v e o n e c o m m o externalit
s y s t e an d t h a t ’ s w h y w e h anv e o n e way t o d o i t ” y
m .
contro investment
l protection
constructed contro
self-defence rigidity l

(W. Damsleth, Master thesis, interview

#7)
 COD
ES

externality them-
us
contro
l
does not fit
me counter-
tradition
misfi
t
distancin
inappropriatene g
ss
self-
constructed
defence
rigidity
investment
protection
 Interview 7 Interview 8
Too difficult 17 19
Codes in use References coded
Avoiding Microwork 11 11
Interview 7 69 434
Constructed Rigidity 20 2
Interview 8 89 369
Control 19 3
Total 803
Working Around 9 13
Telephone 11 10
Manual Routines 11 9

• Coding is highly personal

Not my job
Time-consuming
11
8
9
12

• Coding paradigms (Strauss 1987, p.

Competency
Manual Automatization
14
14
5
5
27-28) Competencial inadequacy 6 11

•
Fails to Automate 8 8
conditions Future System 14 2
• interaction among the actors Detective work 2 13

• strategies and tactics Faith in the Construct 13 2

• consequences
Backstage, No Knowledge of
Bad UI
11
9
3
5
Compliance 7 7
ERP System by Name 12 1

(W. Damsleth, Master thesis, Methods chapter)

 AXIAL CODING
(“GROUPING” OR “CATEGORIZING” ALONG
DIMENSIONS)

D i m e n s i o n a l i z i n g : A b asi c
operation of making distinctions,
whose products are
dimensions and sub
dimensions. • Group codes into categories
that have axial variability
Category:from
comes Since any distinction represented in the codes
dimensionalizing, those
categories.
distinctions will lead to
(Strauss 1987, p. 21)
 MEMOING AND
ANALYSIS
• When discovering a relationship between concepts
(codes), categories and dimensions – write a
memo!

• Code Memos are linked to one or several

codes, categories or relationships

• Write Code Memos immediately when the idea(s) strike(s)

you! Do NOT wait – the idea is fleeting, your data is not!

• Code Memos – or paper to publish? No form requirement

– only structure required!
Continuous analysis

Continuous tuning
 PROGRAMMATIC
ANALYSIS

Weak or no correlation

Strong correlation
 QUICK COMMENTS ON
CODES
• Micro-coding

• Macro-coding

• Ten codes, a million codes?

• “Let the codes come to me and do not forbid them, for

the Grounded Theory belongs to such as these!”

• It's easy to keep using the same codes – and dangerous

• Remember axial coding!

 MORE QUICK COMMENTS ON CODES
• Codes will crystalize while coding.

• What happens to new codes you discover while coding?

Should you go back and re-code the rest of the data in
this light? Again? And again?

• Keep going until the theory is saturated!

• You will get successively more codes with higher granularity

as you code

• Go back? When is enough?

 Do not group the codes too early!

and

One occurrence of a particular code can be ten times

as meaningful as ten occurrences of another code
 ON
SOURCES
Great Sources Good Sources Challenging Sources Poor Sources
 Suitability for GT
analysis

Objectivity and Accuracy

 What about quantitative data?

You can use it – to support or contradict your findings!

 GT
PROS&CONS
Pro Con

(Usually) Great results! Takes a lot of time

Grounded Data Takes a lot of work

The discovery of more than the sum of

Can give false trails
your data

Free styled, suitable for many sorts of

Can’t use all your results
outputs

Combines well with many other

Needs immersion
methodologies

You don’t need to know for sure what You can’t know for sure what you’re
you’re looking for looking for
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WILHELM A. S.
DAMSLETH