Grounded theory in LIS research

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Introduction

Grounded theory is an inductive emergent type of qualitative research. The intent of grounded theory is to generate or discover a theory – discovering a theory that is grounded (hence the name). It is an abstract analytical schema of a philosophy that relates to a particular situation. This could be one in which individuals interact, take actions or engage in a process in response to a phenomenon (Creswell, 1998).

Grounded theory is described as a research method in which the theory is developed from the data instead of the other way around. That makes GT an inductive emergent approach moving from the specific to the more general. The method is essentially based on three elements: concepts, categories and propositions, or what was originally called "hypotheses". However, concepts are the key elements of analysis since the theory is developed from the conceptualization of data, rather than the actual data.

Strauss & Corbin, authors of "Basics of Qualitative research: Grounded Theory Procedures and Techniques" are two of the greatest advocates of GT. They define it as follows: "The grounded theory approach is a qualitative research method that uses a systematic set of procedures to develop an inductively derived grounded theory about a phenomenon".

The primary objective of grounded theory, therefore, is to expand on an explanation of a phenomenon by identifying the key elements of it and categorizing the relationships of elements to the context and process of the experiment. In other words, the goal is to go from the general to the specific without losing sight of what makes the subject of a study unique.

Salient quotes

• The theory is emergent -- discovered in the data, Glaser will say. The methods can be emergent too. This is an important issue, worth more attention.
• This distinction between "emergence and forcing", as Glaser frames it, is fundamental to understanding the methodology. Grounded theory has its own sources of rigour. It is responsive to the situation in which the research is done. 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.

Challenges

• researchers need to set aside, as much as possible, theoretical ideas or notions so that the analytical, substantive theory can emerge
• despite the evolving inductive nature of this form of qualitative inquiry, researchers must recognize this as a systematic approach to research with specific steps in data analysis
• researchers need to face the difficulty of determining when the categories are saturated or when the theory is sufficiently detailed
• in GT you are asking yourself: What is going on here? What is the situation? How is the person managing the situation? what categories (plural) are suggested by that sentence?
• carry out data analysis with the first survey in mind; code subsequent interviews (or data from other sources) with the emerging theory in mind; that’s constant comparison: initially comparing data set to data set; later comparing data to theory. As you do this, be aware of any theoretical ideas that come to mind. If any do, note them down immediately.

Coding

Coding is the disaggregation of core themes during qualitative data analysis. A specific type of coding called axial coding is a process of relating codes (categories and concepts) to each other through inductive and deductive thinking. The basic framework of relationships is understood according to Strauss who proposes the use of a "coding paradigm" to include categories related to I) the phenomenon under study, II) conditions related to that phenomenon (context, intervening-structural-conditions or causal conditions), III) actions and interactional strategies aimed at managing or handling the phenomenon and IV) consequences of the actions/interactions related to the phenomenon.

The implicit or explicit theoretical framework necessary to identify categories in empirical data is derived from a "general model of action rooted in pragmatist and interactionist social theory". This model or theoretical framework underlines the importance of "analysing and modelling action and interaction strategies of the actors". Coding is a cornerstone of Strauss and Corbin’s (1990, 1998) approach but is regarded by Charmaz (2006) as highly structured and even optional.

References