Grounded theory: A Study

Joshy K X (XUPH16006)
1. Introduction
Science is the attempt to understand, explain, and predict the world we live in. The
distinguishing features of science lie in the particular methods (experiments, observation)
scientists use to investigate the world. Another important feature of science is the
construction of theories. Scientists do not simply record the results of experiment and
observation in a log book they usually want to explain those results in terms of a general
theory. (Okasha, 2002)
One of the key problems in philosophy of science is to understand how techniques such as
experimentation, observation, and theory construction have enabled scientists to unravel so
many of natures secrets. It also analyses the methods of enquiry used in the various sciences.
A research paradigm is the set of common beliefs and agreements shared between
scientists about how problems should be understood and addressed (Kuhn, 1962) According
to Guba (1990), research paradigms can be characterised through their:

Ontology What is reality?

Epistemology How do you know something?
Methodology How do you go about finding it out?

Can science explain everything? However much the science of the future can explain, the
explanations it gives will have to make use of certain fundamental laws and principles. Since
nothing can explain itself, it follows that at least some of these laws and principles will
themselves remain unexplained. Scientific ideas are dynamic and they change fast. We need
to understand the history of science in this context. Ahistorical treatment of science is
academically easy but some appreciation of the history of scientific ideas is helpful for
understanding the issues that interest philosophers of science. Close attention to the history of
science is indispensable for doing good philosophy of science. (Okasha, 2002)
2. What is grounded Theory?
Grounded theory was developed by Barney Glaser and Anslem Strauss, in the 1960s. GT is
explained as a package of research methods, which includes data collection, coding and
analysing through memoing, theoretical sampling and sorting to writing, using the constant
comparative method. (Glaser, 1998). It seeks to develop theory that is grounded in data
systematically gathered and analysed. According to Glaser and Strauss, a key feature of GT is
the constant comparative method of analysis in which data collection and analysis are a
simultaneous and interactive processes. The major difference between grounded theory and
other methods is its specific approach to theory development. Other methods try to obtain
accurate facts using which theories can be tested where grounded theory suggests that there
should be continuous interplay between data collection and analysis.
Grounded theory is an inductive type of research, based in the observations or data from
which it was developed. It uses a variety of data sources, including quantitative data, review

of records, interviews, observation and surveys. Concepts are basic units of analysis.
Concepts grouped and related to form abstract categories. Relationships between categories
identified to develop formal theory. Theory building- concepts, categories, themes are
identified and developed during the study.
The core process of Grounded Theory research is Coding. It is through coding that the
conceptual abstraction of data and its reintegration as theory takes place. There are two types
of coding in a classic grounded theory study: substantive coding, which includes both open
and selective coding procedures, and theoretical coding. The coding of data in grounded
theory occurs in conjunction with analysis through a process of conceptual memoing,
capturing the theorists ideation of the emerging theory. Memoing occurs initially at the
substantive coding level and proceeds to higher levels of conceptual abstraction as coding
proceeds to theoretical saturation and the theorist begins to explore conceptual reintegration
through theoretical coding.
3. Historical Emergence
Science for Kuhn is an intrinsically social activity: the existence of a scientific community,
bound together by allegiance to a shared paradigm, is a prerequisite for the practice of normal
science. (Kuhn 1962) Every way of knowing rests on a theory of how people develop
knowledge. The components of early theory building were systematic observation, replicable
experiments, operational definitions of concepts, logically deduced hypotheses, and
confirmed evidence-often taken as the scientific method-formed the assumptions upholding
quantitative methods. These assumptions supported positivism, the dominant paradigm of
inquiry in routine natural science.
The Positivist conceptions of scientific method and knowledge stressed objectivity,
generality, replication of research, and falsification of competing hypotheses and theories.
(Popper, 1959). Social researchers who adopted the positivist paradigm aimed to discover
causal explanations and to make predictions about an external, knowable world. Their beliefs
in scientific logic, a unitary method, objectivity, and truth legitimized reducing qualities of
human experience to quantifiable variables. (Charmaz, 2006)
Thus, positivist methods assumed an unbiased and passive observer who collected facts but
did not participate in creating them, the separation of facts from values, the existence of an
external world separate from scientific observers and their methods, and the accumulation of
generalizable knowledge about this world. Positivism led to a quest for valid instruments,
technical procedures, replicable research designs, and verifiable quantitative knowledge.
Another trouble was methods of social research have focused mainly on how to verify
theories. In social research generating theory goes hand in hand with verifying it; but many
sociologists have been diverted from this truism in their zeal to test either existing theories or
a theory that they have barely started to generate. (Strauss) The answer to the existing
problem was the emergence of GT.
4. Advantages of GT
We have seen that Grounded theory means discovering of theory from data systematically
obtained from social research. This approach is widely used when you need a broad theory

or explanation of a process, especially helpful when current theories about a phenomenon are
either inadequate or non-existent (Creswell, 2008). The value of Grounded Theory is that it
avoids making assumptions and instead adopts a more neutral view of human action in a
social context. (Simmons, 2006). "Grounded theory provides a methodology to develop an
understanding of social phenomena that is not pre-formed or pre-theoretically developed with
existing theories and paradigms." (Engward, H (2013) Nursing standard, 28, 7, 37-41)
5. Critical review of the Grounded Theory
Kuhns second philosophical argument was based on an idea known as the theoryladenness
of data, where he believed that data are invariably contaminated by theoretical assumptions.
The logical positivists believed in the existence of theory-neutral data which is opposed to the
view held by Kuhn. Here we see that GT is more agreeable to Kuhns view than that of
logical positivists view.
Grounded theory seeks to develop theory that is grounded in data, but we see that grounded
theory is about concepts that emerge from data, not the data per se. This situation in fact
questions foundational claims of GT.
Glaser & Strauss (1967) insisted that during the process of coding preconceived ideas should
not be forced on the data by looking for evidence to support established ideas. This is not a
very practical thing as philosophers would say that understanding is the answers given to the
questions raised by preunderstanding.
Micro-analysis coding (line by line and word by word) is time consuming due to the enormity
of data which can also result in ambiguity and confusion.
6. Conclusion
Every method of theory building has something to offer to us, but not EVERYTHING. To
conclude we can say that all theory building methods are complementary perceptions and
efforts to understand the reality that surrounds us. They are also visions of the divine
mystery. No particular method or theory can raise the claim of being the norm for all others.
Each method looks at the reality from a particular perspective.
Ekam sat vipra bahudha vadanti"that which exists is One: sages call it by various names.
The message underlies and pervades all reality around us.

Bibliography:
1. Charmaz Kathy Constructing Grounded Theory - A Practical Guide through
Qualitative Analysis, Sage, 2006
2. Creswell, John W, Research Design, Sage, 2014
3. Glaser and Strauss, The Discovery of Grounded Theory, Transaction Publishers,
1967
4. Guba Egon G, Paradigm dialog, Sage Publications, 1990.
5. Kuhn Thomas, Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Chicago University Press, 1962
6. Samir Okasha, Philosophy of Science A very short introduction OUP, 2002