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Showing papers on "Grounded theory published in 1988"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Rennie et al. as mentioned in this paper discussed the challenges and limitations of grounded theory in psychotherapy process research and illustrated the application of grounded approach in terms of its application to psychotherapy processes.
Abstract: There is a growing body of opinion that psychology suffers from an elaborate research technology that overemphasizes theory verification and impairs thinking and discovery. Grounded theory is advanced as an approach to research that can address this crisis of method in psychology. The grounded approach is described and illustrated in terms of its application to psychotherapy process research. The emphasis on theory creation characterizing the approach is examined within the history of induction. The challenges to and limitations of grounded theory are discussed. There are growing indications that psychology as a discipline is undergoing a crisis of confidence about its research methods. These rumblings of discontent were felt two decades ago when Bakan (1967) characterized psychologists as playing at science in much the way children play at being cowboys, imitating every aspect of cowboy life except the one which is most central — taking care of cows. In much the same way, Bakan contended, psychologists have been concerned with developing an elaborate research technology while ignoring the main work of science — thinking and discovery. The fault does not lie entirely with contemporary psychologists. It has been pointed out that psychology imitated physics with its emphasis on hypothetico-deductive research while in retrospect the fledgling science might have found astronomy or zoology, with their emphasis on Research leading to this paper was supported by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Grants 451-83-3642 and 410-83-1264 to David Rennie. We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of D. Bakan, G. Cupchik, K. Danziger, R. Goranson, L. Heshusius, R. Kroger, A. Mahrer, J. Martin, S. Mor, A. Shaul, I. Silverman, J. Weiser, M. Westcott, and L. Wood who commented on earlier drafts of the paper. Reprint requests may be sent to David L. Rennie, Department of Psychology, York University, North York, Ontario, M3J 1P3. description, more appropriate models (Endler, 1984; Kendler, 1986). As a result, the ensuing technology has increasingly dictated the kinds of studies that are done and has made theorizing less common and less respectable than energetic but trivial research (Bakan, 1967; Brandt, 1982; Endler, 1984; Gergen, 1982; Koch, 1981; Secord, 1982; Silverman, 1977). Many theories that have been developed have been tested by disjointed investigations of irrelevant hypotheses (Arthur, 1983). Even when the hypotheses of studies have been more closely tied to theories, testing has been contaminated by research participants responding to their own inner hypotheses about the experiments in which they are engaged (Orne, 1962; Silverman, 1977). Furthermore, speculation that investigators themselves are incapable of shedding biases despite the most rigorous experimental approaches (Kuhn, 1970; Polanyi, 1969) has received empirical support

500 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the promise of ethnography for research and for improving teaching and teacher training is addressed, and some principles of quality ethnographic work are discussed, including the focus on behavior in groups, holism, emit-etic perspectives, comparison, grounded theory and techniques of data collection and treatment.
Abstract: Ethnography has recently become fashionable in ESL, second language classroom, and educational research. But many studies bearing the name ethnographic are impressionistic and superficial rather than careful and detailed. This article addresses two questions: What is ethnography? And what can it do for us in ESL? Ethnography is defined, and some principles of quality ethnographic work are discussed, including the focus on behavior in groups, holism, emit-etic perspectives, comparison, grounded theory, and techniques of data collection and treatment. The promise of ethnography for research and for improving teaching and teacher training is then addressed.

425 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A definition of hopefulness from well and ill adolescents is generated and the beliefs that hope is a contributing factor in health maintenance and is especially vital for individuals experiencing life‐threatening illness are included.
Abstract: Hopefulness is believed to be a significant element in the human response to illness, but its clinical impact has not been documented due to conceptual and operational difficulties. This article generates a definition of hopefulness from well and ill adolescents. The study's conceptual orientation included the beliefs that hope is a contributing factor in health maintenance and is especially vital for individuals experiencing life-threatening illness. Grounded theory methodology was used. Interviews, observations and health records were data sources. Data were analyzed during the cross-comparative method. A panel approach was used to assess the reliability and validity of the induced categories. Theoretical saturation on a definition was achieved. Adolescents with cancer had a dimension in the definition not found in the other two groups. The added dimension had a focus on "others" in contrast to only "self."

97 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a review of the medical and psychiatric literaure on seeking help is presented, and the authors call for construction of a grounded theory based on qualitative research, and recommend that EAPs develop more accurate classifications for labeling cases.
Abstract: Practitioners tend to employ cultural referral categories when classifying what has motivated clients to enter employee assistance programs (EAPs). These categories are rooted in ideology and used in ways that often conceal the diverse factors leading troubled employees to seek help. In particular, application of the term “self-referral” has grown dramatically while application of the term “supervisory referral” has declined, which may reflect practitioners' underlying beliefs about how employees ought to use EAPs. The article discusses some studies of alcohol treatment efforts for which the use of cultural referral categories made interpretation of the findings difficult. Following a review of the medical and psychiatric literaure on seeking help, the authors call for construction of a grounded theory based on qualitative research, and recommend that EAPs develop more accurate classifications for labeling cases.

25 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A beginning theory of independence through self-care and client involvement emerged from the data analysis, and it was suggested that to promote healthy aging, nursing interventions should be directed toward aggregate populations.
Abstract: In this research project we explored beliefs about healthy aging in an Appalachian community. A major goal was to develop theory for community health nursing interventions that promote and maintain health during the aging process. A convenience sample of 105 community informants responded to an open-ended interview schedule that elicited beliefs and values of health and aging. The data were analyzed for the purpose of producing grounded theory; a major category that emerged portrayed the aging process as a collection of attitudes about oneself. Health was described as feeling good and being able to enjoy life. The informants reported that health is maintained by good nutrition, exercise, and an environment that is safe and promotes individual growth and development. A beginning theory of independence through self-care and client involvement emerged from the data analysis. A second component of the theory suggested that to promote healthy aging, nursing interventions should be directed toward aggregate populations. Nursing interventions that are grounded in the understanding of cultural beliefs and practices are likely to be more beneficial to clients than those that ignore or displace such beliefs and practices. This theory has the potential of being extended to a variety of settings.

19 citations


Book
01 Jan 1988
TL;DR: In this article, a qualitative study of low-status, rural Appalachian women is presented, focusing on the social reality of the women in the region and their perceptions of their world.
Abstract: This study was designed to develop a deeper under­ standing of the social realities of low-status, rural Appalachian women. Its methodological base is to be found in phenomenological philosophy which points to the power of the social context in the construction of social meanings. Existing studies of low-status Appalachian women present conflicting pictures of the women and contain little information regarding the women's point of view. Some observers have portrayed the women as members of a traditionalist subculture -unable to adapt to the modern world -exhibiting dysfunctional personality character­ istics (Looff, 1971; Photiadis, 1970; Polansky, 1972; Weller, 1965). Other observers have suggested that the economic exploitation of the region since the nineteenth century and the cultural imperialism of the middle-status newcomers have had an adverse effect on the lives of the indigenous people (Lewis & Knipe, 1978; Whisnant, 1980). As a means of gaining access to the women's percep­ tions of their world, this study used qualitative research methods -participant observation and unstructured interviews. The researcher resided in the community, part-time, and conducted interviews with the participants in their homes. The eighteen women in the study were Appalachian born and raised, currently rearing children,

16 citations




Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The authors argue that sociology is influenced by the social and cultural context and cannot but be ethnocentric, as is illustrated by the concept of modernisation, and argue that Western social science can have only limited utility in Africa.
Abstract: Universalism in sociology has been closely associated with construction of theory and assuming certain questions are fundamental. As such it may be a design for imperialism and domination of other societies. But sociology is influenced by the social and cultural context and cannot but be ethnocentric, as is illustrated by the concept of modernisation. Ake and others argue that Western social science can have only limited utility in Africa. Grounded theory on the contrary provides a basis for indigenous research and basing theory building in data from the sociologist's own country is a contribution to the greater comparability of data and systems of knowledge.

15 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A review of the book "Managing the Corporate Social Environment: A Grounded Theory" by Robert H. Miles is given in this article, where the authors present a review of their work.
Abstract: The article presents a review of the book “Managing the Corporate Social Environment: A Grounded Theory,” by Robert H. Miles.

9 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a framework for developing a theory of corporate policy, based on case studies used in capstone courses in strategy and policy in AACSB accredited master's programs in schools of business administration in the US.
Abstract: A framework is presented for developing a theory of corporate policy, based on a fairly exhaustive survey of case studies used in capstone courses in strategy and policy in AACSB accredited master's programs in schools of business administration in the US. The main variables relevant to corporate policy were identified and grouped into eight meta-variables: strategy, strategic actions, organizational characteristics, environment, strategic process, organizational design, strategic actors, and organizational performance. I propose a framework for strategic theory: A strategy is the actions taken to match an organization with its environment. The strategy is formulated and implemented by a process and an organizational design in which various actors take part. Strategic match results in high performance. This is the first step in generating a theory from data, to be followed by generating propositions.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Qualitative research exploring institutionalized elders' responses to an intergenerational geriatric remotivation program revealed “Reconnecting” to be a basic social psychological process that explains much of the variation in the data.
Abstract: The purpose of this qualitative research was to explore and describe institutionalized elders' responses to an intergenerational geriatric remotivation program Middle-school aged children became “pals” to the elders in a year long program of twice-weekly sessions The expectation was that the elders' social isolation would be decreased Data collection was by participant observation and interviews of the elders Additional interviews of staff, family member's and the children contributed contextual relevance The grounded theory method of data analysis revealed “Reconnecting” to be a basic social psychological process that explains much of the variation in the data Reconnecting has several phases — presencing, attending, evaluating, attaching Minimal conditions necessary for reconnecting to occur and intervening variables are discussed The research highlights the importance of evaluating the patients' perspectives about programs designed for their benefit The complexity of an intergenerational program is revealed



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Mrs. A. moved back to her hometo care for her terminally ill brother-in-law, with whom she had enjoyed a close relationship, however, the two beganto differ in their views of how his life should be managed.
Abstract: Mrs. A. movedbackto her hometo carefor herterminally ill brother-in-law,with whom shehadenjoyedacloserelationship. However,the two beganto differ in their views of how hiscareshouldbe managed.Mrs. A. reportedthat her brother-in-lawrecently rebuffedher offersof care. She commented,“The hospice nursesprobablythink I’m terrible becauseI don’t helphim, but whenI tried to seehim he got angry; I felt like a failure.” Mrs. B. andher family moved her terminally ill mother-in-law into their home.The experience, althoughdifficult at times,had broughtthe family closer togetherand, in someways hadenhancedcommunications. Sheadded,“The family feelswe are doingthe right thing.” It is clearthe two families

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the views of a sample of young people in Scotland about their experiences of the Youth Training Scheme and found that these respondents use and interpret the terms "slave labour" and "cheap labour" as applied to the scheme.
Abstract: This article investigates the views of a sample of young people in Scotland about their experiences of the Youth Training Scheme. It uses qualitative data drawn from a national postal survey of young people throughout Scotland which was conducted in 1985. It is argued that such data can be used in the generation of a simple form of ‘grounded theory’, and for gaining new insights into the way young people understand their world. In particular, the article looks at the ways in which these respondents use and interpret the terms ‘slave labour’ and ‘cheap labour’ as applied to the Youth Training Scheme, and discusses some of the aspects of the Youth Training Scheme which are felt by trainees to be unsatisfactory.

Dissertation
01 Jun 1988
TL;DR: The recommendations identify changes of practice which will firstly improve communication between health visitors and clients, and secondly focus on the development by health visitors of appropriate knowledge and skills to meet the demands made by clients.
Abstract: This study aimed to explore the process by which members of a client group identify and interpret their health needs, and develop perceptions of health visiting services. The study was carried out in two Phases. The first Phase used semistructured interviews and diaries to explore 41 parents' perceptions at one point in time. In Phase Two a series of three semistructured interviews were completed over a ten month period with 19 primiparous parents, commencing antenatally, and with 10 of their health visitors. Analysis was by the grounded theory method. Eight concept areas emerged from the interview data. These were: Health, health problems and other concerns The need for help - locating the problem Knowledge and experience Legitimation Advice, support and comparing notes Choosing a helper Relationship or problem centred Power and control A substantive theory is put forward which suggests that the nature of previous knowledge and the types of problems encountered influence the choice of helper and the degree of parental control desired at each stage. At stage one health is predominantly defined as socio-emotional, in line with social norms. At stage two, practical difficulties, especially with feeding, become important. At stage three, as other aspects assume less importance, the social norm appears to reassert itself. At stage one, independence is valued, but at stage two, parents assume a more dependent role. At stage three, parents feel more confidence in themselves. 'Comparing notes' offers a reciprocal helping relationship. The value attributed to the health visitor's involvement at each stage appears to reflect how far her views diverge from' those of the parent concerned. The recommendations identify changes of practice which will firstly improve communication between health visitors and clients, and secondly focus on the development by health visitors of appropriate knowledge and skills to meet the demands made by clients.

01 Jan 1988
TL;DR: In this paper, the role of the computer in the process of qualitative analysis is discussed, and a stepwise procedure is proposed for the analysis of qualitative (textlike) data.
Abstract: In the last decade, many publications have been devoted to the methodology of qualitative analysis. Here, the role of the computer in the process of qualitative analysis is discussed. With the grounded theory approach as a methodological background, a stepwise procedure is proposed for the analysis of qualitative (textlike) data. 1 Schema, 13 References. HA


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The subjectivity and the meaning of the surgical experience for the patient of having to submit to a surgery, while distinguishing the role and the participation of his spirituality in the experience is focused on.
Abstract: This article presents the results of a qualitative research which adopted the Grounded Theory Methodology to study the surgical patient's spirituality and experience. It focuses on the subjectivity and the meaning of the surgical experience for the patient of having to submit to a surgery, while distinguishing the role and the participation of his spirituality in the experience. It points out same implications for surgical nursing in spiritual assistance to the patient.