Selecting a Grounded Theory Approach for Nursing Research
Date
2018-10
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Abstract
Grounded theory is a commonly used research methodology. There are three primary approaches to grounded theory in nursing research: those espoused by Glaser, Strauss and Corbin, and Charmaz. All three approaches use similar procedures, yet there are important differences among them, which implies that researchers need to make careful choices when using grounded theory. Researchers new to grounded theory need to find the most appropriate approach that fits their research field, topic, and researcher position. In this article, we compare the three grounded theory approaches. Choices of a grounded theory approach will depend on the researcher's understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of all three approaches. Practical aspects of grounded theory approaches should match the information processing styles and analytical abilities of the researcher and the intended use of the theory. We illustrate key aspects of decision making about which method to select by drawing upon the first author's experiences in his doctoral research.
Description
We acknowledge funding for the research and authorship of this article from the University of Calgary, Faculty of Nursing, Graduate Student Knowledge Translation Assistantship to Shaminder Singh. We also acknowledge funding for publication of this article from University of Calgary, Libraries and Cultural resources.
Keywords
grounded theory, philosophy, epistemology, ontology, methodology, method, decision making, nursing theory
Citation
Singh, S., & Estefan, A. (2018). Selecting a Grounded Theory Approach for Nursing Research. "Global Qualitative Nursing Research". 5: 1-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2333393618799571