ch14 grounded theory

Power Point Slides by Ronald J. Shope in collaboration with John W. Creswell

Chapter 14

Grounded Theory Designs

Educational Research 2e: Creswell

Key Ideas

• Defining Grounded Theory• When to use Grounded Theory• Key characteristics of Grounded Theory

research• Conducting a grounded theory study• Evaluating a grounded theory study


What is grounded theory research?

• A grounded theory design is a systematic, qualitative procedure used to generate a theory that explains, at a broad conceptual level, a process, an action, or interaction about a substantive topic.


When do you use grounded theory research?• To generate a theory rather than use

one “off the shelf”• To explain a process, action, or

interaction• When you want a step-by-step,

systematic procedure• When you want to stay close to the data


How did grounded theory develop?

• 1967 Glaser and Strauss book The Discovery of Grounded Theory

• 1990, 1998 Strauss and Corbin prescriptive form with predetermined categories and concerns about reliability and validity

• 2000 Charmaz introduces “Constructivist” method


Types of grounded theory designs: The systematic design

• Open Coding: properties and dimensionalized properties

• Axial Coding: researcher selects one open coding category and places it at the center as the Central Phenomenon and then relates all other categories to it.

• Selective Coding: writing a theory based on the interrelationship of the categories from axial coding


Open Coding to the Axial Coding Paradigm

Open Coding Categories

Category

Category

Category

Category

Category

Axial Coding Paradigm

Context

Causal Conditions

CoreCategory orPhenomenon

Strategies Consequences

InterveningConditions

One open codingcategory as corephenomenon


Types of grounded theory designs: The emerging design

• Grounded theory exists at the most abstract conceptual level rather than the least abstract level as found in visual data presentations such as a coding paradigm

• A theory is grounded in the data and not forced into categories

• Four essential criteria: fit, work, relevance, modifiability


Types of grounded theory designs: A constructivist design

• Philosophical position between positivist and post-modern researchers

• Theorist explains feelings of individuals as they experience a phenomenon or process

• Study mentions beliefs and values of the researcher and eschews predetermined categories

• Narrative is more explanatory, discursive, and probing the assumptions and meanings for the individuals in the study.


Key characteristics of grounded theory designs

• A process approach• Theoretical sampling• Constant comparative data analysis• A core category• Theory generation• Memos


A process and categories within the flow of research in Grounded Theory

The research problem leads to A study of a central phenomenon in grounded theory research questions

That addresses a process Which contains - a sequence of activities - including actions by people

- including interactions by people

Which a grounded theorist begins to understand by developing - categories - relating categories - developing a theory that explains


Zig-zag approach to data collection and analysis

Data Collection Data Analysis

Close to SaturatedCategories

ThirdInterview

SecondInterview

FirstInterview

More RefinedCategories

RefinedCategories

PreliminaryCategories

TowardSaturation ofCategories


Constant comparison procedures in data analysis

Category I Category II

Code B Code CCode A

Indicators

Raw Data (e.g. transcripts,field notes, documents)


Core category of ethnicity in a theory of ethnic minority students’ process of community building

Intervening Conditions

WithdrawalPassive, low risk

Active

Strategies

Ethnicity - Hispanic -BlackGender -male -femaleBackground - Economic Differences -Diversity -Adapting to ChangeSense of Self

PeerInteractions

Community

Causal Condition Phenomenon

Properties

- Nature of Interactions- Racial Differences- Quantity of Friends- Intensity- Time to Develop Friends

Properties

- Sense of Belonging- Source- Importance


Memoing

• Memos are notes the researcher writes throughout the research process to elaborate on ideas about the data and the coded categories. In memos, the researcher explores hunches, ideas, and thoughts, and then takes them apart, always searching for the broader explanations at work in the process.


Conducting a grounded theory study

• Decide if grounded Theory design best addresses the research problem

• Identify a process to study• Seek approval and access• Conduct theoretical sampling• Code the data• Use selective coding and develop the theory• Validate your theory• Write a grounded theory research report


Evaluating a grounded theory study

• Is there an obvious connection between the categories and the raw data?

• Is the theory useful as a conceptual explanation for the process being studied?

• Does the theory provide a relevant explanation of actual problems and a basic process?

• Can the theory be modified as conditions change or further data are gathered?


Evaluating a grounded theory study

• Is a theoretical model developed or generated that conceptualizes a process, action, or interaction?

• Is there a central phenomenon (or core category) specified at the heart of the model?

• Does the model emerge through phases of coding? (e.g. initial codes to more theoretically oriented codes or open coding to axial coding to selective coding)

• Does the researcher attempt to interrelate categories?


Evaluating a grounded theory study• Does the researcher gather extensive data so as

to develop a detailed conceptual theory as well saturated in the data?

• Does the study show how the researcher validated the evolving theory by comparing it to the data, examining how the theory supports or refutes existing theories in the literature, or checking theory with participants?

ch14 grounded theory

Documents

discovery of grounded

research process

grounded theory design

data educational research

grounded theorist

documentseducational

flow of research

explainseducational