Brussels Grounded Theory

7/29/2019 Brussels Grounded Theory

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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!

Brussels Grounded Theory

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