GROUNDED THEORY DESIGNS

THE DEFINITION OF GROUNDED THEORY

Grounded Theory is a method for the collection and analysis of qualitative data. In the method conceptual properties and categories may be discovered or generated from the qualitative data by following a number of guidelines and procedures.

the application of grounded theory in doing a research:

1. Choose a substantive research topic. (organizational dynamics, management issues, primary and secondary education, health care services, race relations, juvenile crime and other topics.) 2. Identify a single question, known in qualitative research as a "grand tour" question, to serve as a springboard for data collection.

3.Collect data using the research methods that are most appropriate for the subject you are studying. 4. Categorize and code your data. If you're conducting interviews, this will require careful reading of interview notes and transcripts to note important patterns and themes. 5. Write memos that connect the themes and patterns you have observed as you categorize the data. Memo writing is the step in which you begin to articulate the theory you will present in your report.

 6. Review the research literature in your field of interest and consider how the previous studies fit into the theory you will articulate in your grounded theory report. 7. Draft an outline of your report, using the completed memos as a guide. After doing this, write an analytical report that articulates your theory.

WHEN DO YOU USE GROUNDED THEORY?

grounded theory suggests that theory emerges inductively from the data (Chesebro & Borisoff, 2007). Though it can be used in different types of research, grounded theory is often adopted to formulate hypotheses or theories based on existing phenomena, or to discover the participants main concern and how they continually try to resolve it (Glaser, 1992).

WHEN DO YOU USE GROUNDED THEORY?

when you need a broad theory or explanation of a process that the existing theories do not address your problem or the participants that you plan to study. when you wish to study some process such as how students develop as writers, etc.

TYPES OF GROUNDED THEORY DESIGNS

1. The Systematic Design The systematic design is the detailed GT method, systematic design emphasizes the use of data analysis steps of open, axial, and selective coding for developing a theory that is thus grounded in data. Open coding is the first analytic process of conceptualizing, defining categories, and developing categories in terms of their properties and dimensions

 Axial coding is a process in which data are put back together in new ways after open coding by making connection between categories Selective coding is the process of integrating and refining the theory

2. The Emerging Design stresses the importance of comparing and connection categories and emerging theories from the data collected, allowing the research to develop a theory and discuss the relationships between categories In emerging grounded theory approach, the procedure is to generate categories by examining the data, refining the categories into fewer and fewer categorie, comparing data with emerging categories, and writing a theory of several processes involved.

3. The Constructivist Design This form of research design focuses on the importance of meanings individuals attribute to the focus of the study. Applying active codes, the researcher looks at the participants thoughts, feelings, stances, viewpoints, assertions etc. and places this information into categories during the data collection. Furthermore, this techniques allows the research bring some of their own views, beliefs, values, feelings, assumptions, questions to the data and ideologies of individuals than in gathering facts and describing acts. In applying this approach, a grounded theorist explains the feelings of individuals as they experience a phenomenon or process.

THE KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH

A process in grounded theory research is a sequence of actions or interactions among people and events pertaining to a topic Theoretical sampling in grounded teory means that the researcher chooses form of data collection that will yield text and images useful in generating the theory. This means that the sampling is intentional and focus on the generation of a theory.

 Constant comparison is an inductive (from specific to broad) data analysis procedure in grouded theory research of generating and connecting categories by comparing incidents in the data to other incidents, incidents to categories, and categories to other categories. In this process, the grounded therist ask question of the data. What is the data study of? What category or what property of what category does this incident indicate? What is actually happening in the data?

 a core category After identifying several categories, the researcher selects a core category as the basis of writing the theory. The researcher makes this selection based on several factors, such as its relationship to other categories, its frequency of occurrence, its quick and easy saturation, and its clear implications for development of theory

 Theory Generation This theory in grounded theory research is an abstract explanation or understanding of a process about a substantive topic grounded in the data. Consider how grounded theory actually present their theory in three possible ways: as a visual coding paradigm, as a series of propositions (hypotheses), or as a story written in narrative form.

 Memos In memos the researcher explores hunches, ideas, and thoughts, then take them apart, always searching for the broader explanations at work in the process. Memos help direct the inquirer toward new sources of data, shape which ideas to develop further, and prevent paralysis from mountain of data. However, grounded theory studies do not often report memoing

THE STEPS IN CONDUCTING GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH

1. Decide If a Grouded Theory Design Best Addresses the Research Problem 2. Identify a Process to study 3. Seek Approval and Access 4. Conduct Theoretical Sampling 5. Code the Data 6. Use Selective Coding and Develop the Theory 7. Validate Your Theory 8. Write a Grounded Theory Research Report

EVALUATE GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH

Is there an obvious connection or fit between the categories and the raw data? Is the theory useful as a conceptual explanation for the process being studied? In other word, does it work? Does the theory provide a relevant explanation of actual problems and basic process? Is the theory modified as conditions change or the researcher collects additional data? Next, ask about the process of research: Is a theoretical model developed or generated? Is the intent of this model to conceptualize a process, an action, or interaction? Is there a central phenomenon (or core category) specified at the heart of this model? Does the model emerge through phases of coding ?