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1 Intro Grounded Theory

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6 views

1 Intro Grounded Theory

Uploaded by

Farzana Afzal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Qualitative Research:

Grounded Theory

Prof. Dr. Farah Malik


Lecture Outline
 Background of Grounded Theory

 Definitions of Grounded Theory

 Characteristics of GT

 Steps involved
Grounded Theory: Background
Grounded Theory
o History
 Introduced in 1967 by Glaser and
Strauss in the book The Discovery
of Grounded Theory
- Challenged:
1. divisions between
theory and research
2. the notion that
qualitative research was a
precursor to more “rigorous”
quantitative research
Grounded Theory
o History
- Challenged….
3. beliefs that
qualitative research
methods are impressionistic and
unsystematic
4. the separation of
data collection and
analysis
5. assumptions that
qualitative
Grounded Theory
o History
 Strauss believed that the
 quality of a theory can be
evaluated by the process through
which that theory was
constructed;

 which is in contrast to the


scientific perspective that states,
the quality of a theory is
determined by its ability to explain
Grounded Theory Background
Further development-Strauss and Corbin (1998)
Roots are in Sociology
In response to the Positivistic paradigm approach:
1. For research to be scientifically meaningful,
theoretical positions should be analytically /
logically derived from set of assumptions (e.g.
math theorem) or be verifiable (observation &
experiment)

2. Social work researcher should be neutral and not be


an advocate (arguments that no research is
neutral)

3. Purpose of GT was to advance qualitative research


by making it “systematic research.” (systematically
developing theory from data)
Grounded Theory: Definitions
Grounded Theory
o Defining

Grounded Theory: refers to


theory that is developed inductively
from a corpus (massive) of data

(Steve Borgatti:
http://www.analytictech.com/mb870/introtoGT.htm)
Grounded Theory
Definition
Glaser and Strauss(1967)

GT is the discovery of theory from


data systematically obtained from
social research.
The strategy used in this discovery
process is method of constant
comparative analysis.
The purpose of GT is to explain the
data (concepts)
Grounded Theory Definition…….
(Strauss and Corbin 1998)

 GT is inductively derived from the study of the


phenomenon it represents (instead of starting
out with a theory and proving it)

 Data, analysis and theory are constantly


interacting (having a “dialogue” with each
other not isolated but are parts of a
conversation)

 The purpose of using GT method is to


develop a theory from the data being
examined (theory fits what is seen in the data)
Grounded Theory
o Ultimate definition :

Grounded Theory: the


systematic generation of theory from
systematic research;
 a set of rigorous research
procedures leading to the
emergence of conceptual
categories
 Grounded theory is a set of iterative
techniques designed to identify
categories and concepts within text that
are then linked into formal theoretical
models
(Corbin & Strauss, 2008).

 Charmaz (2006, p. 2) describes


grounded theory as a set of
methods that “consist of systematic, yet
flexible guidelines for collecting and
analyzing qualitative data to construct
theories ‘grounded’ in the data
themselves.”
Grounded Theory
o Characteristics
1. Purpose is to develop to theory
about phenomenon of interest
- should be grounded or
rooted in observation

2. Allows researcher to seek out and


conceptualize latent social patterns
and structures through constant
comparisons
Grounded Theory
o Characteristics

3. Iterative (repetitive) process

4. Rich description is important, but


not primary focus

5. Purposive sampling
Grounded Theory
o Glaserian (1967) Hallmarks

1. Researchers must find the core


variable (the main concern and
its recurrent solutions) as the
first stage of the study, and
 limit the scope of their study to
that
Grounded Theory
o Glaserian Hallmarks

2. Researcher must suspend


existing beliefs/preconceptions,
remain open, and trust in the
emergence of concepts from the
data
Grounded Theory
o Glaserian Hallmarks
Use constant comparison method to
provide abstract
conceptualizations and avoid
descriptive interpretations

- is the heart of GT

- helps facilitate the


discovery of patterns in
the data
Grounded Theory
o Stages/Steps

1. Topic selection and preparation


- minimize preconceptions
- Do not do a literature review at
this point!

2. Data collection
- a variety of methods can be
used
Grounded Theory
o Stages/Steps
3. Analysis
constant comparative method:
involves comparing one segment
of data with another to determine
similarities and differences

a. overall objective is to identify


patterns in the data
Grounded Theory
o Stages/Steps
3. Analysis….
b. While you do comparisons
you will be taking notes and
coding
coding: identifying
categories and properties

- can be done formally or


informally
Grounded Theory
o Stages/Steps
3. Analysis
c. Ask 3 general questions of the
data:
1. What is the data of a
study ?
2. What category does this
incident
indicate?
3. What is actually
happening in the data?
Grounded Theory
o Stages/Steps
4. Memoing
memos: theorizing write-up of
ideas about codes and their
relationships
- notes to yourself

* Data collection, analysis, and


memoing are ongoing and
overlap
Grounded Theory
o Stages/Steps

Data collection
Note taking
Coding
Memoing
Sorting
Writing
Grounded Theory
o Stages/Steps

Notes Codes

Memos
Grounded Theory
o Stages/Steps
5. Sorting and Theoretical Outline:
refers to conceptual sorting of
memos into an outline of the
emergent theory, showing
relationships and concepts

6. Write up/report
Grounded Theory
o The Literature

1. Avoid reading literature


regarding the specifics of your
study at first, rather read broadly

2. Access relevant literature as it


becomes relevant

3. Can be used as data


Grounded Theory
o Adequacy of Theory

2 Criteria:
1. The theory must fit the situation

2. The theory must work


Thank you for your attention

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