From the Editor’s Desk

How to Read Classic Grounded Theory Have you wondered how to best read and evaluate grounded theory studies?  Contrary to what some people believe, grounded theories are neither stories, lists of themes, nor descriptions, rather they consist of parsimonious rigorously extracted concepts bound by inductively derived theoretical relationships. The network of concepts and theoretical relationships may be invisible to one who is unfamiliar with the method. The purpose of this editorial is to discuss some of the clues a reader might use to determine the quality of a classic...

Theoretical Writing

Barney G. Glaser Editor’s note: This paper addresses common questions about the particular way in which grounded theorists should write about their classic grounded theory. This important chapter has been excerpted and lightly edited for clarity and context from chapter 8 in Glaser’s Theoretical Sensitivity (1978). The goal of grounded theory methodology, above all, is to offer the results to the public, usually through one or more publications. We will focus on writing for publication, which is the most frequent way that the analyst can tell how people are “buying” what...

Becoming an Expert: A Classic Grounded Theory Study of Doctoral Learne...

Barry Chametzky, American College of Education, City University of Seattle, USA Abstract The theory of Becoming an Expert is about the transformation from a student who consumes knowledge to expert and scholar-researcher who creates knowledge.  However, more conceptually, the theory is equally applicable to anyone who progresses from novice to expert in a specific endeavor or field.  The process may start with an innocuous idea as “I would like to learn more about ABC.”  Through a series of trials and tribulations—referred broadly as juggling in the theory—the person...

Grounded Theory through the Lenses of Interpretation and Translation

Maria Mouratidou, University of Cumbria Mark Crowder, Manchester Metropolitan University Helen Scott, Grounded Theory Online, Grounded Theory Institute Abstract This paper explores interpretation and translation issues that arose during a grounded theory study of the Greek health sector.  It highlights problems that were encountered when working in two languages and demonstrates how these were overcome. This is important because Grounded Theory (GT) research, in cross-cultural contexts, is associated with the linguistic challenges of conceptualisation. The authors offer...

Doing One’s Best: Becoming a Kinship Caregiver

Kara Vander Linden, Ed.D., Saybrook University, USA Catherine J. Tompkins, PhD, MSW, George Mason University, USA Abstract A kinship family is one where a family member, other than a biological parent, is primarily responsible for the child. In-depth, unstructured interviews with kinship caregivers and children from 15 kinship families were conducted to gain a thorough understanding of interactions and relationships among kinship family members. Other data sources included notes from monthly kinship care committee meetings, kinship care focus groups, and kinship family...

Moving On

Lisa Goldberg, Saybrook University, USA Kara Vander Linden, Saybrook University, USA Abstract Moving on explains a five-stage process of making voluntary change. The first stage begins with a realization that a person is moving toward or away from something and faces a decision to do nothing, perch, or continue on. In the second stage, seeking a right fit, a person explores vehicles for change and uses value-based decision-making to seek a right fit. Acting upon that right fit does not happen until a tipping point is reached, the third stage. Deciding to move toward...