Presentation made at research workshop of the Da Vinci Institute hosted at Eskom Research Conference. A unique integration of grounded theory and systems thinking are presented.

1. About
your
research
methodology
– a
Grounded
Theory
methodological
approach
Dr
Rica
Viljoen
Presentation
at
Da
Vinci
Eskom
Research
Conference
2014

2. On
Research
“A
journey
begins
before
the
travellers
depart.
So,
too,
our
Grounded
Theory
adventure
begins
as
we
seek
information
about
what
a
grounded
journey
entails
and
what
to
expect
along
the
way.”
Charmaz,
2006:
1

3. The
emotional
experience
of
a
researcher

4. “Theory
derived
from
data
is
more
likely
to
resemble
the
‘reality’
than
is
theory
derived
by
putting
together
a
series
of
concepts
based
on
experience
or
solely
through
speculation
(how
one
thinks
things
ought
to
work).
Grounded
theories,
because
they
are
drawn
from
data,
are
likely
to
offer
insight,
enhance
understanding,
and
provide
a
meaningful
guide
to
action.”
Strauss
&
Corbin,
1998,
p.12
Grounded
Theory
(GT)

5. History
of
GT
Developed
in
the
School
of
Nursing,
University
of
California
San
Francisco
by
sociologists
Glaser
and
Strauss
– Awareness
of
Dying
Influenced
by
Symbolic
Interactionism
(Blumer 1969:
2)
-­‐ Human
beings
act
towards
things
on
the
basis
of
the
meanings
that
these
things
have
for
them;
-­‐ The
meaning
of
such
things
is
derived
from,
and
arises
out
of,
the
social
interaction
that
one
has
with
one’s
fellows;
-­‐ These
meanings
are
handled
in,
and
modified
through,
an
interpretive
process
used
by
the
person
in
dealing
with
the
thing
he
encounters.

6. History
of
GT
1960’s
move
from
natural
science
as
the
foundation
of
social
research
– new
ways
of
investigating
the
social
world
• Denzin and
Lincoln’s
– Modernist
moment
• Realist
ontology
• Epistemology–objective
truths,
generalisable,
testable
and
verifiable
theory
• Place
of
the
researched
and
the
researcher
– ‘discovery
of
theory’
• The
move
in
social
science
towards
postmodernism
and
post-­‐
structuralism
has
resulted
in
GT
being
attacked
for
its
objectivist
and
positivist
foundations.
• In
later
works
Glaser
and
Strauss,
take
on
the
language
associated
with
interpretivism -­‐ change
in
foundation
• Now
mostly
associated
with
a
post-­‐modernistic
or
social
constructivist
ontology
and
an
interprevistic epistemology

7. Definitions
‘To
generate
or
discover
a
theory’
(Glaser
and
Strauss,
1967)
‘The
discovery
of
theory
from
data
systematically
obtained
from
social
research’
(Glaser
and
Strauss
1967:
2)
‘Systemic
approach
towards
finding
themes
that
emerge
from
data,
grounded
in
theory’
(Viljoen,
2012)

8. Different
approaches
• Glaser
– (1998)
emergence
of
themes
• Corbin
and
Strauss
(1990)
– Systemic
approach
create
validity
• Viljoen
– Incorporate
design
theory
(Ackoff and
Strumpher)
with
social
systems
theory
(Senge)
in
data-­‐analysis
phase

9. Features
of
Grounded
Theory
Charmaz (1995,
2002):
• Simultaneous
collection
and
analysis
of
data
• Creation
of
analytic
codes
and
categories
developed
from
data
and
not
by
pre-­‐existing
conceptualisations (theoretical
sensitivity)
• Discovery
of
basic
social
processes
in
the
data
• Inductive
construction
of
abstract
categories
• Theoretical
sampling
to
refine
categories
• Writing
analytical
memos
as
the
stage
between
coding
and
writing
• The
integration
of
categories
into
a
theoretical
framework.

11. Data
Collection
‘all
is
data’
• In-­‐depth
interviews
• – Most
commonly
used
– Relies
on
open
ended
questions
– Questions
can
be
modified
to
reflect
emerging
theory
• Observational
methods
• Focus
Group
– Can
be
used
• 8-­‐18
voices
– often
narrative

12. Coding
• Open
Coding
• Axial
Coding
• Selective
Coding
• Theoretical
Coding

13. Bottom
line
driven
Silo
Mentality
Effectiveness
of
Leadership
Clear
Vision
Integration
Satisfied
People
Collaboration
Availability
of
skills
(EXT)
Innovation
Sustainability
Strategy
Knowledge
Management
People
Management
Communication
Legislation
Organisational
Structure
People
Competencies
Globalisation
Technology

14. How
to
conduct
Quality
Research
• Charmaz (2006:
182)
:
– credibility
– originality
– resonance
– usefulness
• Glasier (2001,2003)
:
– Fit has
to
do
with
how
closely
concepts
fit
with
the
incidents
they
are
representing,
and
this
is
related
to
how
thoroughly
the
constant
comparison
of
incidents
to
concepts
was
done.
– Relevance: A
relevant
study
deals
with
the
real
concern
of
participants,
evokes
"grab"
(captures
the
attention)
and
is
not
only
of
academic
interest.
– Workability: The
theory
works
when
it
explains
how
the
problem
is
being
solved
with
much
variation.
– Modifiability: A
modifiable
theory
can
be
altered
when
new
relevant
data

15. References
• Charmaz,
K.
&
Bryant,
A.,
2010.
Grounded
Theory.
In
International
Encyclopedia
ofEducation.
Oxford:
Elsevier,
pp.
406–412.
Available
at:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B735N-­‐
502X2YTSX/ 2/e31754873a8f8fb35be74b6c26ae5231
[Accessed
October
26,
2010].
• Charmaz,
Kathy,
2006.
Constructing
Grounded
Theory:
A
Practical
Guide
through
Qualitative
Analysis
1st
ed.,
Sage
Publications
Ltd.
• Cohen,
L.,
Manion,
L.
&
Morrison,
K.R.B.,
2000.
Research
methods
in
education,
Routledge.
• Corbin,
J.
&
Strauss,
A.,
1990.
Grounded
Theory
Research:
Procedures,
Canoncs and
Evaluative
Criteria.
Zeitschrift fur
Soziologie,
19(7),
pp.418–427.
• Goulding,
C.,
2002.
Grounded
theory:
a
practical
guide
for
management,
business
and
market
researchers,
SAGE.
• Guba,
E.G.,
1981.
ERIC/ECTJ
Annual
Review
Paper:
Criteria
for
Assessing
the
• Trustworthiness
of
Naturalistic
Inquiries.
Educational
Communication
and
• Technology:
A
Journal
of
Theory,
Research,
and
Development,
29(2),
pp.75–91.
• Guest,
G.
&
MacQueen,
K.M.,
2008.
Handbook
for
team-­‐based
qualitative
research,Rowman
Altamira
• Shannak,
R.O.
&
Aldhmour,
F.M.,
2009.
Grounded
Theory
as
a
Methodology
for
Theory
Generation
in
Information
Systems
Research.
European
Journal
of
Economics,
Finance
and
Administrative
Sciences,
15.
• Shenton,
A.K.,
2004.
Strategies
for
ensuring
trustworthiness
in
qualitative
research
projects.
Education
for
information,
22(2),
pp.63–76.