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An Overview of
Grounded TheoryDr. Simon Hayhoe, London
Paper Delivered to Vrije Universiteit, Brussel (FreeUniversity, Brussels), Department of Psychology, 1st October
2005
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The principles of this lecture
To give you an informed overview ofGrounded Theory.
To introduce you to the context of
Grounded Theory. To show you the relevance of
Grounded Theory.
To show an example of a Grounded
Theory. To show references, from which
more can be read.
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How did Grounded Theory
begin?
Sociologists Glaser and Straussstudy of dying in a Californiahospital.
Found no real theory to test againstthis subject.
Developed the methodology ofGrounded Theory to give them a
method of developing a social theoryof dying in hospital using onlyexisting data gathering methods.
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What Grounded Theory
became
A loose, less structured method ofdeveloping and testing theorysimultaneously than traditional, empiricalmethodologies.
However, had more structure that CliffordGeetzs thick description
A system of testing and retesting theoriesover a period of years.
A system of describing society throughabstract notions, rather like a playdescribes a fictional/documentaryoccurrence.
A creative method of breaking away fromhighly structured analyses.
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Core philosophical principles
of Grounded Theory
Data is data. You can use both qualitativeor quantitative! Although this form ofanalysis is usually associated withqualitative studies.
Anti-positivist. Grounded Theory is a strongally of Popper and Kuhn. It believes thattheories are man-made and evolve.
A belief that all data and existing theoriesare equal. Even supporting studies inexisting refereed journals have equality
with data freshly collected in the field. It argues that researchers are not
hierarchical, and all researchersexperiences are valuable.
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Why use Grounded Theory?
You may be in an area where there is littleor no theory in existence.
You may not agree with existing theories.
You may want to evolve and take
ownership of a theory over your lifetime. You may not want to test existing
hypothesis.
You may want to mix qualitative and
quantitative data. You may want to collect a broad range of
data beyond more structured methods.
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Disadvantages of Grounded
Theory
Felt by some to be wishy-washy.
Difficult to gain funding, as each projecthas no specific beginning or end.
A relatively young and developingmethod.
It is not developed to test hypotheses.
Inadequate for comparing two theses. Can be inadequate for projects with
specific aims, such as evaluations.
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Forms of data collection
Just about anything really!
Usually involves qualitative datacollection, particularly interviewing.
Grounded Theory studies also tendto feature observations.
Statistical information is usuallyregarded as secondary source data.
Self reviews and field diaries arealso sometime contentiouslyused as data.
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Forms of coding
Open coding. If there is a form ofpilot study in the Grounded Theory,this is it. This form identifiesconcepts and actors.
Axial coding. Connecting theconcepts and actors.
Selective coding. This is re-entry into
the field in order to find the storiesbehind the connections betweenactors and their concepts.
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The cycle of analysis
Axial Coding
Selective Coding
Open Coding
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Treating data like writing an
everlasting play
Open coding is like choosing the
characters and main events in
your play.
Axial coding is like choosing
your plot.
Selective coding is like choosing
the story lines that put the plots
and sub-plots together.
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Sampling people and phenomena
as casting and writing a play
Initial data gathering for Open codinginvolves trying to select arepresentative sample of subjectsand their situations.
Axial coding is finding representativesubjects and researching their plotsin detail.
Selective coding involves
researching a select sampleaccording to their interactions withother actors and plots to analyse thestories that are being told in the play.
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Example of a Grounded
Theory
A study of a Bruxelles research
group
Open coding of subjects in the
group and their roles.
Axial coding of their roles and
tasks.
Selective coding of certainindividuals according to their
interactions with other subjects
and plots.
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Computer programs designed for
the analyses of Grounded Theory
NUDISTAtlasTi
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Useful references
Barney Glaser: Doing Grounded
Theory Research, The Grounded
Theory Perspective, Theoretical
Sensitivity. Strauss & Corbin: Strategies of
Qualitative Research.
Chapters in Lincoln & DenzinsQualitative Research and
Robsons Real World Research.
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Thankyou so much for your time.
Finis
Et bon chance avec vous recherche!