What is grounded theory?

1 What is grounded theory ?Helen Noble,1 Gary Mitchell2 IntroductionGrounded theory (GT) is a research method concernedwith the generation of theory ,1which is grounded indata that has been systematically collected and is used to uncover such things as social rela-tionships and behaviours of groups, known as was developed in California, USA byGlaser and Strauss during their study Awareness ofDying .1It is a general methodology for developingtheory that is grounded in data which is systematicallygathered and of GT Data collection and analysis occur simultaneously. Categories and analytic codes developed from conceptualisations not to be used this isknown as theoretical sensitivity (see below).

2 Theoretical sampling used to refine categories. Abstract categories constructed inductively. Social processes discovered in the data. Analytical memos used between coding and writing. Categories integrated into a theoretical out a GT studyFirst the area of interest is identified. Theoretical precon-ceptions should be avoided, although it is accepted thisis difficult in practice. Analytical procedures and sam-pling strategies are then used and the study isfinishedwhen theoretical sampling reached5all discussed collected may be qualitative or quantitative or acombination of both. Data collection methods ofteninclude in-depth interviews using open-ended can be adjusted as theory methods and focus groups may also samplingGlaser and Strauss (1967)first mentioned theoreticalsampling and described a process of generating theoryfrom data which includes collecting the data, thencoding and analysing the the researchermakes a conscious decision about what further detailthey feel needs exploring as the new theory develops.

3 Itusually takes place after some initial key concepts orcategories have been identified, for example, you mightdecide to interview patients about their experience ofheart failure. They may talk about systematic errorsoccurring in the general practice surgery. From this ana-lysis of the data you may decide to approach and inter-view GPs to explore their views on patients sampling therefore, is used to produce moredata to endorse or refute the categories that have beenidentified in the previous sensitivityTheoretical sensitivity refers to the insight of theresearcher. It concerns the researcher being able to givemeaning to data, understand what the data says, andbeing able to separate out what is relevant and what isnot.

4 By being theoretically sensitive and using insight,the researcher is able to develop a theory that isgrounded, theoretically dense, and from several sources including (1) literature indepth reading offers a rich understanding of the phe-nomena being studied; (2) professional and personalexperience offers an understanding of the events andtopics being explored; (3) the analytic process allowsfor insight and understanding of the of data in GTThere are three stages of data analysis in GT:81 Open coding: this involves line by line coding whereconcepts and key phrases are identified and high-lighted and moved into subcategories, then catego-ries. This breaks the data down into conceptualcomponents and the researcher can start to theoriseor reflect on what they are reading and understand-ing making sense of the data.

5 The data from eachparticipant will be constantly compared Axial coding: at this stage relationships are identi-fied between the categories, and Selective coding: this involves identifying the corecategory and methodically relating it to other cat-egories. The relationships must be authenticated andcategories refined. Categories are then integratedtogether and a GT notes are encouraged. These are notes tooneself to explain thought patterns in relation to thedata analysis. Final theory is usually generated from theintegration of several analytical core categoryThe core category is the chief phenomena around whichthe categories are built. theory is generated around acore category.

6 The core category should account for thevariation found in the data, that is, the categories willrelate to it in some way. The categories demonstrate howthe core category is situated in the lives of those partici-pating in the of a GT case studyAs illustrated, GT methodologies involve the construc-tion of new theory through the analysis of data. In astudy carried out by Beechet al,9the authors sought toexplore patient participant experiences of recovery fol-lowing surgical intervention for colorectal cancer. Beechet al9opted to use GT because previous studies hadEditor s choiceScan to access morefree of Nursing andMidwifery, Queens s UniversityBelfast, Belfast, UK2 Four Seasons Health Care,Belfast, UKCorrespondence toDr Helen Noble,School of Nursing andMidwifery, Queens s UniversityBelfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Based NursApril 2016| volume 19| number 2|Research made simple on September 23, 2022 by guest.

7 Protected by Based Nurs: first published as on 12 February 2016. Downloaded from sought to answer this research question by measuringquantifiable biomedical markers, such as symptoms ofpain, insomnia or fatigue. According to the authors,there was a paucity of empirical literature around thetopic from a holistic perspective, for example social, psy-chological and cultural aspects of a person s participants were interviewed four times, overa 1-year period. The authors used theoretical samplingto guide the researcher as data were collected. It helpedfacilitate the development of theory as it emerged, notonce data collection was participantswere selected based on subject area , as is recommendedin theoretical sampling.

8 Each had undergone a surgicalprocedure to remove a tumour in their bowel or rectumand had not received prescribed chemotherapy or radio-therapy. The authors initially asked patient participantsto describe their experiences to analysis of the interviews was carried outaccording to the steps described by Strauss authors began by coding each line of eachpatient participant transcript. Similar codes were thengrouped together to form subcategories and within thesesubcategories categories were identified. The authorsthen grouped together the categories to form theoryrelated to patient participant experiences of recoveryfollowing surgical intervention for colorectal process of data collection continued until each cat-egory was saturated and no new data participants described their recovery in threephases identified from three categories; disrupting theself, repairing the self and restoring the self.

9 The authorsalso noted how the process was linear in that all partici-pants went through the stages, for example, phase onebegan at prediagnosis and ended at the conclusion ofsurgery; phase two commonly lasted between 3 and6 months and phase three, from 6 months onwards, wasrelated to a person sfluctuating level of wellness andillness. Notably, these three categories were underpinnedby various subcategories, which were generated frominitial codes. For example, the second category Beechet al4identified, disrupting the self , was made up ofthe three subcategories; body repair, autonomy andre-establishing personal identity (figure 1).Importantly, the authors encapsulated the three cat-egories to present a pertinent theory related to patientparticipant experiences of recovery following surgicalintervention for colorectal cancer.

10 They found thatrecovery is more than physical repair. It is a process ofrestoring a sense of wellness demonstrated through anawareness and enjoyment of the physical, emotional,social and spiritual aspects of life, in other words, holis-tic using GT and adhering to this as a research method,a theory will be produced that is grounded in is a research method which uses strict proce-dures for data analysis and will enable you to search forand conceptualise the hidden social and collective pat-terns and constructions in your area of interestsNone and peer reviewNot commissioned;internally peer BG,Strauss AL. The discovery of grounded theory :Strategies for qualitative research New York: Aldine de Gruyter, A, Corbin J.