Question

What is an example of a scholarly article that used grounded theory for research?

Answer 1

Grouneded theory refers to a set of systematic inductive method for conductiing qualitative research aimed toward theory of development.The analysis provide focused,abstract,conceptual theories that explain the studied empirical phenomena.Ground theory used to

• identify substative area
• collect data pertaining to substative area
• open code to dataa collection
• conduct selective coding and theoretical sampling

Grounded theory differs from either qualitative content analysis or thematic analysis because it has its own distinctive set of proceduers including theoretical sampling and open coding.

Qualitative methodologies are increasingly popular in medical research. Grounded theory is the methodology most-often cited by authors of qualitative studies in medicine, but it has been suggested that many ‘grounded theory’ studies are not concordant with the methodology. In this paper we provide a worked example of a grounded theory project. Our aim is to provide a model for practice, to connect medical researchers with a useful methodology, and to increase the quality of ‘grounded theory’ research published in the medical literature.

Study background

We used grounded theory methodology to investigate social processes in private dental practices in New South Wales , Australia. This grounded theory study builds on a previous Australian Randomized Controlled Trialcalled the Monitor Dental Practice Program. We know that preventive techniques can arrest early tooth decay and thus reduce the need for fillings. Unfortunately, most dentists worldwide who encounter early tooth decay continue to drill it out and fill the tooth . The MPP tested whether dentists could increase their use of preventive techniques.

DESIGNING

1. An open beginning and research questions

Grounded theory studies are generally focused on social processes or actions: they ask about what happens and how people interact. This shows the influence of symbolic interactionism, a social psychological approach focused on the meaning of human actions . Grounded theory studies begin with open questions, and researchers presume that they may know little about the meanings that drive the actions of their participants.

2.. Ethics approval and ethical issues

Medical researchers are often concerned about the ethics oversight process for such a flexible, unpredictable study design. We managed this process as follows. Initial ethics approval was obtained from the Human Research Ethics Committee at the University.

3.  Initial, Purposive Sampling

Grounded theory studies are characterised by theoretical sampling, but this requires some data to be collected and analysed. Sampling must thus begin purposively, as in any qualitative study. Participants in the previous study provided our population .This included 22 private dental practices in NSW, randomly allocated to either the intervention or control group.

Initial Interviews One hour in-depth interviews were conducted. The researcher/interviewer (AS) travelled to a rural town in NSW where interviews took place.

4. . Data Analysis

Coding and the constant comparative method

Coding is essential to the development of a grounded theory . According to Charmaz coding is the pivotal link between collecting data and developing an emergent theory to explain these data. Through coding, define what is happening in the data and begin to grapple with what it means’. Coding occurs in stages. In initial coding, the researcher generates as many ideas as possible inductively from early data. In focused coding, the researcher pursues a selected set of central codes throughout the entire dataset and the study. This requires decisions about which initial codes are most prevalent or important, and which contribute most to the analysis. In theoretical coding, the researcher refines the final categories in their theory and relates them to one another. Charmaz’s method, like Glaser’s method , captures actions or processes by using gerunds as codes. Charmaz also emphasises coding quickly, and keeping the codes as similar to the data as possible.

5. Theoretical sampling, ongoing data analysis and alteration of interview route

Already described our initial purposive sampling. After our initial data collection and analysis, here used theoretical sampling to determine who to sample next and what questions to ask during interviews. We submitted Ethics Modification applications for changes in our question routes, and had no difficulty with approval. We will describe how the interview questions for dentists and dental practice staff evolved, and how we selected new participants to allow development of our substantive theory.

6. Mapping concepts, theoretical memo writing and further refining of concepts.

After theoretical sampling, we could begin coding theoretically. We fleshed out each major focused code, examining the situations in which they appeared, when they changed and the relationship among them. At time of writing, reached theoretical saturation . We have been able to determine this in several ways. As we have become increasingly certain about our central focused codes, we have re-examined the data to find all available insights regarding those codes. We have drawn diagrams and written memos.

During data analysis

1. Detailed analysis records were kept; which made it possible to write this explanatory paper.

2. The use of the constant comparative method enabled the analysis to produce not just a description but a model, in which more abstract concepts were related and a social process was explained.

3. All researchers supported analysis activities; a regular meeting of the research team was convened to discuss and contextualize emerging interpretations, introducing a wide range of disciplinary perspectives.