Tips on How to Write Grounded Theory Qualitative Research

Grounded theory refers to a set of systematic inductive methods for conducting qualitative research aiming towards theory development. The methodological strategies of grounded theory are aimed to construct middle-level theories directly from data analysis. This approach of qualitative research based on strong empirical foundations. Thus, Grounded theory provides focused, abstract, conceptual theories that explain the studied phenomena.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Grounded Theory

Some of the advantages of using Grounded Theory include:

• Assumptions are not made in grounded theory instead; it adopts a more neutral view of human action in a social context.
• Grounded theory provides a methodology to develop an understanding of social phenomena that is not pre-theoretically or pre-formed developed with existing paradigms and theories.
• As an exploratory method, grounded theory is well suited to investigate social processes that have attracted little prior research attention, where the previous research lacks breadth and/or depth, or where a new point of view on familiar topics appears promising.
• The situated nature of knowledge and contingent nature of practice is identified in grounded theory. Grounded theory produces a thick description that acknowledges areas of contradiction and conflict.
• Grounded theory is good at determining what actually happens.
• As a general theory, grounded theory adapts readily to studies of diverse phenomena.

Grounded theory also has disadvantages such as;

• It cannot change and respond as conditions that affect behavior change.
• The embeddedness of a researcher is not recognized in grounded theory and thus obscures the researcher's considerable agency in data construction and interpretation.
• Large amounts of data are produced in grounded theory approach and are often difficult to manage.
• Researchers ought to be skillful in using grounded theory methods.
• There are no standard rules to follow in the identification of categories.

How to Develop Research Questions for Grounded Theory Research

In grounded theory qualitative study, researchers formulate research questions, not objectives or hypotheses. These research questions are in two forms: a central question and an associated sub-question. A central   question is broad and asks for exploration of the concept in a study or central phenomena, the inquirer poses this question consistent with the emerging methodology of qualitative research, as a general issue so that it does not limit the inquiry.

Grounded theory qualitative research intends to explore the complex set of factors surrounding the central phenomenon and present the varied perspectives or meanings that participants hold. One or two central questions should be asked followed by not more than five sub-questions/specific questions.

Several sub-questions should follow each general central question; these specific questions narrow the study but leave the questioning open. Start each question with words like, what or how to convey an emerging and open design.

Focus on a single concept or phenomena, as research develops, factors will emerge that influence that single phenomenon. Also use exploratory verbs such as to discover, or seek to understand, that convey the language of emerging design.

Open-ended questions Should be used without reference to the theory or literature. Finally, specify the participants and the research site for the study, if the information has not yet been given.

How to Collect Data for Grounded Theory Research

In grounded theory qualitative research, focus groups and one-to-one interviews are some of data collection methods used, the process involves generation of large amounts of data.

There are different ways of recording what is said and done during focus group or interviews, such as audio/video- recording or taking handwritten notes. If the researcher is video- or audio-recording data collection, the recordings must be transcribed verbatim before data analyses begins.

Taking notes allows the researcher to maintain and comment upon environmental context, behaviors, impressions, and nonverbal expressions that may not be adequately captured through audio recording.

How to Analyze Data in Grounded Theory Qualitative Research

Grounded theory qualitative research is analyzed by using documents, notes are written down during interviews from which original observations, comments, and feelings are reconstructed or- text transcribed from audiotapes. Also through Conceptualization, coding, and categorizing.

Sometimes conceptualizing starts with simple observation that is directly interpreted and then put back together more meaningfully. Finally, authenticating conclusions and reflexivity.

Grounded theory qualitative research has no standards set that exist for evaluating the validity, or authenticity, of conclusions in qualitative study, but there is need to consider the evidence and methods on which conclusions are based is as great as with other types of research.

Interpretation of Data

Grounded theory qualitative research use texts rather than numbers or patterns to interpret data. Qualitative research is gathered using a wide variety of person- to- person techniques, which may be difficult to analyze compared to the quantitative research method. Qualitative data needs to be first coded into numbers before being analyzed.

The codes done by the analyst should to be put in a document form so that they can be analyzed and also be reused by others. Ordinal and nominal data are examples of qualitative data which use same data interpretation method, but ordinal is much easier than nominal. Mostly ordinal is labeled in numbers during the data collecting process, hence coding is not needed.  Unlike nominal data that needs to be coded before proper data interpretation takes place.

How to Code Data for Grounded Theory Research

When all the research interviews have been checked and transcribed, coding begins. Notes that were taken during the interview can be an important complementary source of information to facilitate this process, as the gap in time between interviewing, transcribing and that needs cording can result in memory bias regarding environmental context issues or nonverbal communication that my affect data interpretation.

Coding refers to the topic identification, issues, differences, similarities that are revealed through the participants’ narratives and interpretation by the researcher. This process helps the researcher start understanding the world from each participants’ perspective. Grounded theory qualitative research can be done by hand on a hard copy of the transcript, by highlighting and naming text sections, or by making notes in the margin.

To ensure credibility of coding, ask another researcher to code the same transcript and then to discuss any differences and similarities in the two resulting sets of codes. This simple act can result in the revision of codes and can help to clarify and confirm the research findings.

Writing/Developing Themes

Theming refers to bringing together codes from one or more transcripts to present findings of qualitative research in meaningful and coherent way. The significance of going through theming is that at its conclusion, it will be possible to present data from the interviews using quotations from individual transcript to illustrate the source of researcher’s interpretations.

Therefore, when the findings are organized for presentation, every theme can become the heading of a section in the presentation or report. Under each theme will be the codes, examples from the transcripts, and the researcher’s own interpretation of what the themes mean. Implications for real life should also be given.

Planning and Writing the Report (Dissertation/Thesis)

Presentation is usually in a form of a paper or a report and it should follow accepted academic guidelines. The research should begin with an introduction, literature review included and a rationale for the study. Grounded theory qualitative research should have a chosen methodology section and a brief discussion of why qualitative methodology was appropriate for the study question and why one particular methodology was selected to guide the research.

The research method should be described, participants chosen and data collection method chosen, followed by research findings which is the main body of the report. Giving out a plan on how findings should be presented is helpful. It helps in putting heading sections.  Make a note on codes that exemplify the feelings and thoughts of your participants. It is advisable to put quotations that you want to use for each theme, using each quotation once.

After all this is done, report writing can start as you give your voice to the experiences of the participants, writing around their quotations. Draw assumptions from the participants’ narratives, as this is necessary to give an in-depth account of the phenomena in question. Discuss these assumptions, drawing from your participants’ words to support you as you move from one code to another and from one theme to the next. Finally, it is possible to include examples from literature that add support for your findings.

Tips for Writing the Conclusion

Writing conclusions is important to remind your reader on the impact and strength of your research.  Grounded theory qualitative research conclusions helps refocus the reader’s attention to most important points and supporting evidence of your study.

Conclusions are basis of continuing research, creating new ideas to solve the highlighted issues and offering new approaches to a topic.  To make a good conclusion start by restating your research topic and thesis, write a summary of the discussed points, state your results and give a concluding thought.