Grounded theory is inductive approach to theory building
Remenyi on Grounded Theory
In business and management studies established and accepted theories are not many still. As a result the business and management researcher has opportunity to build new theories. The grounded theory is a concept developed by Glaser and Strauss(1967). They define it as: ‘ an inductive, theory discovery methodology that allows the researcher to develop a theoretical account of the general features of a topic while simultaneously grounding the account in empirical observations or evidence.’
The grounded theory methodology normally relies heavily on the use of in-depth interviews with experts in the field of study for the collection of evidence that will be used in an inductive way to assist in the theory generation.
Theoretical Conjecture
The primary aim of the researcher developing a grounded theory is to describe the phenomena of interest accurately. The grounded theory emerges through the process of concept discovery, within which the researcher develops abstract concepts and categories from the evidence. It is important to note that in this approach to research, concepts and theories are regarded simply as more or less useful and not as more or less true or valid.
Once the grounded theory has been developed, the researcher in business and management studies is in a position to make a theoretical conjecture or thesis, but there is no structured methodology for doing this. Rather, this aspect of research or scientific study can be regarded as an art that relies almost entirely on the imagination and creative abilities of the researcher.
The researcher develops a theoretical conjecture from the data or evidence, and he or she needs to be able to defend how the concepts and ideas which exist in the literature and which arose from the evidence lead to the theoretical conjecture.
The following is an example of a theoretical conjecture developed through the use of the grounded theory approach for a doctoral dissertation in information systems management (Remenyi,1990a).
Strategic Information Systems (SIS) occur as a result of pressure or opportunities directly related to industry drivers. The firm’s response to this pressure or opportunity is influenced by its strategy and by its critical success factors (CFS), and these issues determine the formulation of the SIS. The decision to attempt to take advantage of SIS is made with little attention to detail concerning cost-justification and vendor selection, but with more attention to communicating with the staff, training appropriate people and setting up support facilities.
An important change occurs at this stage of the research. Whereas the formulation of the research problem began as a description of the known facts from which a narrative theory was developed, this narrative will now be used paradigmatically. That is to say, it will provide a set of logical conjectures as the basis on which to predict and explain observations.
Whereas in the physical sciences the theoretical conjecture will frequently be expressed as a formula or as a series of simple propositions, in business and management research the theory or thesis will be presented as a diagram also for the purpose of clarification and presentation.
Hypotheses or Empirical Generalisations
When the new theoretical conjecture or paradigm has been developed the next step is to use it to derive hypotheses or empirical generalisations. If the theory or thesis has been derived from a review of the literature then the term hypothesis is more generally used, while if the grounded theory approach was employed then the term empirical generalisation is usually more appropriate.
Strategic Information Systems occur as a result of pressure or opportunities directly related to industry drivers.
The firm’s response to this pressure or opportunity is influenced by its strategy and by its CSFs and these issues determine the formulation of the SIS.
The decision to attempt to take advantage of SIS is made with little attention to detail concerning cost-justification and supplier selection.
More attention is given to communicating with the staff, training appropriate people and setting up support facilities.
Note that from the theoretical conjecture provided on the previous page, four hypotheses or empirical generalisations were developed. This is regarded as a reasonable number of empirical generalisations with which to work at a doctoral level.
Some research studies stop at the stage of theoretical conjecture, perhaps having developed some hypotheses or empirical generalisations. It is argued that at this stage a contribution has already been made to knowledge and this may well be so. Certainly achieving a theoretical conjecture and producing empirical generalisation would normally be more than adequate for a masters degree and depending on the subject area it might even be enough for a doctorate.
However, if the newly discovered knowledge is to be more widely useful, then it is usually necessary to progress to a further stage in the research in which the new thesis is tested against a larger sample population. In most circumstances this additional step would be required for a doctorate degree.
Reference: Positivist Approach to Empirical Research - Dan Remenyi - Chapter Summary
https://phd-research-methodology.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-positivist-approach-to-empirical.html
Books
Glaser, Barney G & Strauss, Anselm L., 1967. The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research, Chicago, Aldine Publishing Company - Brief Summaries of the chapters
http://faculty.babson.edu/krollag/org_site/craft_articles/glaser_strauss.html
Glaser and Strauss - Grounded Theory - Chapter 2 - Generating Theory - Quotations and Summary
Papers on the Method
Guiding the Use of Grounded Theory in Doctoral Studies – An Example from the Australian Film Industry
International Journal of Doctoral Studies, Volume 6, 2011
The place of the literature review in grounded theory research
Ciarán Dunne
International Journal of Social Research Methodology
Vol. 14, No. 2, March 2011, 111–124
Thomas, G. & James, D. (2006) ―Re-inventing grounded theory: some questions about theory, ground and discovery‖ British Educational Research Journal, 32, 6, 767–795.
http://eprints.bham.ac.uk/501/2/Thomas_BriEdResJ_2006.pdf
Remodeling Grounded Theory
Barney G. Glaser with the assistance of Judith Holton
Volume 5, No. 2, Art. 4 – May 2004
http://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/607/1315
Conceptualization: On Theory and Theorizing Using Grounded Theory
Barney G. Glaser, PhD, Hon PhD, The Grounded Theory Institute.
International Journal of Qualitative Methods 1 (2) Spring 2002
https://sites.ualberta.ca/~iiqm/backissues/1_2Final/pdf/glaser.pdf
Papers and Dissertations Using Grounded Theory
Leadership under Severe Stress:
A Grounded Theory Study
Gerry Larsson, Ann Johansson, Tina Jansson, Gunilla Grönlund
http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/au-24/larsson2.pdf
Updated on 18 December 2019, 2 September 2013
