What is grounded theory and what is its key analytic goal?

What is grounded theory and what is its key analytic goal?

• A. Grounded theory is a qualitative method used to describe phenomena with no theory development.
• B. Grounded theory is a qualitative method that aims to generate theory inductively from data through coding and constant comparison.
• C. Grounded theory is a quantitative method that tests hypotheses.
• D. Grounded theory is a literature review technique.

Answer: (B)

Grounded theory is a qualitative research approach designed to generate theory from data rather than test predefined ideas. Its key analytic goal is to build a theory inductively, directly grounded in what the data show, through systematic coding and constant comparison. In practice, researchers collect data (such as interviews or observations) and break it down into concepts during open coding, then relate these concepts into broader categories through axial coding, and finally integrate them into a coherent theoretical framework via selective coding. This process continues until theoretical saturation is reached, meaning no new properties or relationships are found. This is distinct from simply describing phenomena without theory development, from quantitative work that tests hypotheses, or from a mere literature review technique, all of which do not focus on generating a grounded, data-driven theory.

Grounded theory is a qualitative research approach designed to generate theory from data rather than test predefined ideas. Its key analytic goal is to build a theory inductively, directly grounded in what the data show, through systematic coding and constant comparison.

In practice, researchers collect data (such as interviews or observations) and break it down into concepts during open coding, then relate these concepts into broader categories through axial coding, and finally integrate them into a coherent theoretical framework via selective coding. This process continues until theoretical saturation is reached, meaning no new properties or relationships are found.

This is distinct from simply describing phenomena without theory development, from quantitative work that tests hypotheses, or from a mere literature review technique, all of which do not focus on generating a grounded, data-driven theory.