what grounded theory is not? ali soheili literature summary technology innovation management june...
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What grounded theory is not?
Ali Soheili
Literature SummaryTechnology Innovation ManagementJune 18, 2009
June 18, [email protected] Slide 2
Literature Review
Suddaby, Roy (2006), “What grounded theory is not?” Academy of Management Journal, 49(4), 633–642.
June 18, 2009 Slide 3
Objectives
• To identify common misconceptions about grounded theory from reviewing Academy Management Journals (AMJ)
• To list common errors that researcher are making in conducting and presenting grounded theory research
June 18, 2009 Slide 4
Grounded Theory
Glaser and Strauss (1967) proposed grounded theory as a practical method for conducting research that focuses on the interpretive process by analyzing the “the actual production of meanings and concepts used by social actors in real settings” (Gephart, 2004: 457). They argued that new theory could be developed by paying careful attention to the contrast between “the daily realities (what is actually going on) of substantive areas” (Glaser & Strauss, 1967: 239) and the interpretations of those daily realities made by those who participate in them (the “actors”).
June 18, 2009 Slide 5
Key Concepts
The method proposed by Glaser and Strauss (1967) is built upon two key concepts:1. Constant Comparison
Data are collected and analyzed simultaneously Contradicts the myth of a clean separation between
data collection and analysis
2. Theoretical Sampling Decision of which data should be collected next are
determined by theory that is being constructed Violates the ideal of hypothesis testing since data
collection direction is not determined
June 18, 2009 Slide 6
Misconceptions
1. Grounded theory is not an excuse to ignore the literature
2. Grounded theory is not presentation of raw data
3. Grounded theory is not theory testing, content analysis or word counts
4. Grounded theory is not simply routine application of formulaic technique to data
5. Grounded theory is not perfect
6. Grounded theory is not easy
7. Grounded theory is not an excuse for the absence of a methodology
June 18, 2009 Slide 7
Ignoring the literature
Problems:
• Researcher enter the field with no knowledge
• Researcher defer readings
• Tackle a “well-tilled soil “ subject
• Forcing researcher to test hypothesis in stead of building constructs
Suggestions:
• Draw from several substantive areas
• Be aware of possibility of influence of preexisting subject areas
• Not to overextend the objective of research
• Pay attention to previous literatures
June 18, 2009 Slide 8
Presentation of Raw Data
Problems:• Confusion between grounded theory / phenomenology• Failure to lift data to conceptual level• Stop data collection early- Category saturation- (there is
no clean break point)
Suggestions :• The primary interest is not the story themselves, rather
extracting information on social situation • Identifying higher level of abstraction of data• Continuing data collection until no evidence appears
June 18, 2009 Slide 9
Theory testing, content analysis, word counts
Problems:• Testing hypothesis• Making truth statement about reality
Suggestions :• Purpose of grounded theory is to extract relationship
between social actors and their interactions • Either create hypothesis, or test hypotheses that are too
abstract • Use content analysis, word count as one of multiple
contexts for acquiring data
June 18, 2009 Slide 10
Routine application of formulaic technique to data
Problems:• Grounded theory a mechanical technique (e.g.
Saturation after 30 interviews)• Tools are used to interpret data
Suggestions :• Grounded theory is an interpretation process• Software's can help with coding but not interpretation• Creativity depends on researcher analytical abilities
June 18, 2009 Slide 11
Grounded theory is not perfect
Problems:
• Growing gap between researchers who use grounded theory and those who write about it
• Quantitative approach for deductive/ grounded theory for inductive
Suggestions :
• Grounded theory requires interplay between deductive and inductive approaches
• Healthy tension between methodologists and practitioners is desirable
• Avoid fundamentalist tendencies in their approaches
June 18, 2009 Slide 12
Grounded theory is not easy
Problem:• The apparent simplicity of grounded theory encourages
inexperienced researchers
Suggestions :• The personality, experience, and character of a
researcher become important components of the research process
• Extensive and ongoing commitment to a line of theoretical research is recommended.
June 18, 2009 Slide 13
Not an excuse for the absence of methodology
Problem:• Researcher claims to perform grounded theory with little
or no methodology• Lack of indication of the theoretical sensitivity
Suggestions :• Authors should explain their methodology strongly, so it
will indicate how conceptual categories are generated • Presence of theoretical sensitivity • Consistency between research question and method