Staying Open: The Use of Theoretical Cod...

Barney G. Glaser, PhD, Hon. PhD Theoretical codes (TC’s) are the abstract models that emerge during the sorting of mature memos in to a potential substantive theory. They conceptualize the integration of substantive codes into hypotheses of a substantive theory. The researcher is challenged to staying open to their emergence and earned relevance rather than their preconceived forcing, which is very strong. They not only bring in their framework, but also their theoretical perspective, which can easily force the data beyond emergence. For example, using a basic social...

Keeping Your Distance

Glen Gatin, Brandon University Abstract This analysis began with inquiries into the substantive area of distance education using the classic grounded theory method. Analysis revealed a pattern of problem-solving behavior, from which the theory Keeping Your Distance emerged. The theory is an integrated set of concepts referring to the conscious and unconscious strategies that people use to regulate distance, physical and representative, in their everyday lives. Strategies are used to control physical, emotional, and psychological realities and to conserve personal energy...

Using Grounded Theory to Analyze Qualita...

Colin Griffiths, Trinity College Dublin Abstract This paper presents a method for the collection and analysis of qualitative data that is derived by observation and that may be used to generate a grounded theory. Video recordings were made of the verbal and non-verbal interactions of people with severe and complex disabilities and the staff who work with them. Three dyads composed of a student/teacher or carer and a person with a severe or profound intellectual disability were observed in a variety of different activities that took place in a school. Two of these...

A Novice Researcher’s First Walk Through...

Gary L. Evans, Liverpool John Moores University Abstract Being new to grounded theory the onus to understand the methodology and the various versions can be daunting.  Learning and understanding the differences between grounded theories methodologies can be as much a learning of one’s own research philosophy and this philosophy is often the deciding factor in methodology selection.  Learning the different methodologies is a difficult journey as terminology often sounds similar to the novice researcher, but only by exploring the differences can the researcher...

Requirements Specifications and Recovere...

Daniel M. Berry, University of Waterloo, Michael W. Godfrey, University of Waterloo, Ric Holt, University of Waterloo, Cory J. Kapser, Mobile Data Technologies, Isabel Ramos, University of Minho Abstract This paper describes the classic grounded theory (GT) process as a method to discover GTs to be subjected to later empirical validation. The paper shows that a well conducted instance of requirements engineering or of architecture recovery resembles an instance of the GT process for the purpose of discovering the requirements specification or recovered architecture...

Book Review: Ditching Description: From ...

Susan Stillman, Director of Ed for Six Seconds Barney G. Glaser (2013). Getting Out of the Data: Grounded Theory Conceptualization, Mill Valley: Sociology Press Overview In the first chapter of this book, Glaser explains his purpose to help the researcher use the constant comparative method to discover and name patterns in the data, relate them to each other, generate a “conceptual hypothesis” (p. 2), and allow a multivariate substantive theory to emerge around a core variable. The first sentence demonstrates his intent to help the reader in “getting out of the data” into...

Book Review: Stop, Write!

Hans Thulesius, University of Lund Stop, Write: Writing Grounded Theory. Barney G. Glaser (2013). Mill Valley: Sociology Press This book on writing grounded theory is intended for the empirical GT researcher who wants to pursue his/her research until publication. It is the first book devoted entirely to such a crucial issue as writing grounded theory. Thus, Stop, Write: Writing Grounded Theory, is a practical book that fills a gap in GT methodology. In the first chapter of the book, Dr. Glaser says, “Stop unending conceptualization, unending data coverage, and unending...

About The Authors

Daniel M. Berry got his PhD in Computer Science from Brown University in 1974. He was in the Computer Science Department at the University of California, Los Angeles, USA from 1972 until 1987. He was in the Computer Science Faculty at the Technion, Israel from 1987 until 1999. From 1990 until 1994, he was half of each year at the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, USA, where he helped build CMU’s Master of Software Engineering program. In 1999, Berry moved to what is now the Cheriton School of Computer Science at the University of Waterloo,...