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Showing papers on "Grounded theory published in 1992"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the uses of literature and open coding techniques for enhancing theoretical sensitivity of theoretical studies, and give guidelines for judging a grounded theory study.
Abstract: Introduction Getting Started Theoretical Sensitivity The Uses of Literature Open Coding Techniques for Enhancing Theoretical Sensitivity Axial Coding Selective Coding Process The Conditional Matrix Theoretical Sampling Memos and Diagrams Writing Theses and Monographs, and Giving Talks about Your Research Criteria for Judging a Grounded Theory Study

28,999 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: 'Grounded theory' is one useful approach to the systematic generation of theory from qualitative data, and alternative criteria can be advanced for judging the adequacy of research where qualitative methods have been used.
Abstract: Unlike other disciplines in the human sciences, psychology has undervalued the role of qualitative research methods in scientific inquiry. This has done a disservice to psychology, depriving its practitioners of skills which can simultaneously liberate and discipline the theoretical imagination. ‘Grounded theory’ is one useful approach to the systematic generation of theory from qualitative data, and alternative criteria can be advanced for judging the adequacy of research where qualitative methods have been used. An advantage of qualitative research is that theory is generated which is contextually sensitive, persuasive, and relevant.

976 citations


Book
06 Apr 1992
TL;DR: For fifteen years, Robert Stebbins has conducted extensive research on amateurs and professionals in theatre, music, archaeology, astronomy, baseball, football, magic and stand-up comedy as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: For fifteen years, Robert Stebbins has conducted extensive research on amateurs and professionals in theatre, music, archaeology, astronomy, baseball, football, magic and stand-up comedy His publications give the theme of serious leisure in-depth scholarly attention This text brings together the findings of this research project to provide a theoretical framework that reveals the commonalities across these eight fields Throughout this project Stebbins has built on the work of Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss and their notion of "grounded theory" First, Stebbins extensively observed the routine activities of amateurs and professionals in each field studied Then, as he became more familiar with the life-styles of the participants, he conducted lengthy, unstructured, face-to-face interviews with, in most cases, 30 amateur or professional respondents Each field demanded special methods of observation, analysis, interviewing, probing and reporting As much as possible, however, Stebbins asked similar questions of all respondents in all fields so as to permit generalizations across these diverse fields The result was a "substantive grounded theory" of each field studied Stebbins has developed a "formal grounded theory" of amateurs and professionals based on the research accumulated in all eight substantive fields By transcending a variety of contexts, he argues, one can gain a more enduring appreciation of the elements that affect peoples' experiences in work and leisure pursuits A review of the findings across this wide range of activities, including his findings and ideas on hobbyists and career volunteers, enabled Stebbins to derive better definitions of the main concepts of the project, such as "amateur", "the public", and "serious leisure" -- as well as "professional", where he distinguishes between client-centred and public-centred professionals who, while sharing numerous ideal-typical attributes, vary as to the power and control they have over their work in a democratic society He presents inductive conclusions about careers and the costs and rewards in the eight amateur-professional fields considered He examines the external world of amateurs and professionals in the light of such issues as family ties, relations among amateurs and professionals and among amateurs and their employers, public images, critics and journalists, community contributions, and the question of marginality for amateurs who are caught between the work world of the professional and the casual leisure world of the majority of the population He concludes with an exploration of the future role of serious leisure in relation to predictions of greater unemployment and increased leisure time and longevity

775 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The authors discuss the importance of specificity in methodology and distinguish between phenomenology and grounded theory, two frequently misused terms in the description of qualitative methodology.
Abstract: Increasingly, qualitative research methods are being embraced by nurse researchers because these approaches allow exploration of human experience. Failure to explicate qualitative methodologies is resulting in a body of nursing research that is either mislabelled or is classified broadly as qualitative and subject to charges that qualitative research lacks rigour. In this paper, the authors discuss the importance of specificity in methodology and distinguish between phenomenology and grounded theory, two frequently misused terms in the description of qualitative methodology.

759 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A modified grounded theory approach was utilized in order to discover how patients feel about participating in decision-making about nursing care, and the analysis of the data can only tentatively suggest the existence of three 'second order' categories that describe situations that effect patient choice and participation in decision -making about their nursing care.
Abstract: Until recently patients were expected to be the passive recipients of nursing care. This passive role has been changing, and nurses are now being actively encouraged to promote the inclusion of patients in decision-making. However, this stance is being taken with very little empirical evidence to support it, and the evidence that does exist appears to indicate that patients do not always welcome this more active role. A modified grounded theory approach was utilized in order to discover how patients feel about participating in decision-making about nursing care. Eight informants were interviewed informally, 7-10 days following discharge from hospital after undergoing surgical intervention. A state of category saturation was not achieved and the analysis of the data can only tentatively suggest the existence of three 'second order' categories that describe situations that effect patient choice and participation in decision-making about their nursing care. The first category, 'If I am well enough...', describes the states of 'Being too ill' to be involved in decision-making to 'Being well' which allows greater involvement. The second category, 'If I know enough...', describes situations that, first, require technical knowledge, 'Nurse knows best', where patients prefer to take a passive role in decision-making; secondly, less technical matters about which patients require information but still prefer to be passive; and finally an 'I know best' situation where patients prefer to be actively involved in activities of living. The third category, 'If I can...', describes the organizational constraints or freedom that can either restrict or encourage choice and participation in decision-making. Limitations and recommendations that arise from the study are discussed.

138 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that shifting paradigms for health promotion research would result in a better fit between research intents and social and behavioral phenomena, and argue that the constructivist paradigm exhibits great utility, power, and synergism with emerging concepts in health research.
Abstract: This article argues that shifting paradigms for health promotion research would result in a better fit between research intents and social and behavioral phenomena. Further, it argues that the constructivist paradigm exhibits great utility, power, and synergism with emerging concepts in health research. Such inquiry also provides for grounded theory and more stakeholder-based policy analyses and evaluation studies. For the purposes of health promotion, qualitative and constructivist research provides a model superior to conventional research.

137 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Quality of care may be better explained by Litwak's theory about the difficult juxtaposition between primary and formal groups than by the nurse's aides' lack of knowledge.
Abstract: This study examines the work of the nurse's aide through a combination of participant observation and in-depth interviews with 30 nurse's aides Data were analyzed using the grounded theory method of constant comparative dimensional analysis Findings suggest that strategies developed by individual nurse's aides to organize their work are important determinants of both the quality of care and worker turnover Quality of care may be better explained by Litwak's theory about the difficult juxtaposition between primary and formal groups than by the nurse's aides' lack of knowledge

116 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined how academic department chairpersons enhance the research performance of college and university faculty by applying grounded theory methods to a national data base of thirty-three interviews with academic department chairs.
Abstract: This study examined how academic department chairpersons enhance the research performance of college and university faculty. Applying grounded theory methods to a national data base of thirty-three interviews with academic department chairpersons, the authors developed a typology of chair roles (administrative, advocacy, and interpersonal), then assessed the process of assistance for faculty at four career stages. The article includes a conceptual model and propositions for future testing.

112 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Analysis of 'going public,' one category of a substantive theory of AIDS family caregiving, highlights both the personal suffering and social manifestations of AIDS, significant issues to consider in planning health services for the second decade of the AIDS epidemic.

109 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Questions are addressed that emerged unexpectedly during a qualitative study set up to explore nurses' descriptions of difficult, challenging and satisfying experiences at work, and some suprising hypotheses emerged regarding the methodology of the informal interview in qualitative research.
Abstract: This paper addresses methodological issues that emerged unexpectedly during a qualitative study set up to explore nurses' descriptions of difficult, challenging and satisfying experiences at work. The purpose of the study had been to look for critical factors influencing nurses' perceptions of their performance in specific situations, and their labelling of each event. Ten nurses were asked to describe in detail three events; a difficult situation in which they had coped well, a difficult situation in which they would like to have coped better, and a satisfying or rewarding situation. The critical incident technique was used. Rich descriptions were obtained, tape recorded, transcribed verbatum, and analysed by constant comparative analysis, following the principles of grounded theory. Some suprising hypotheses emerged regarding the methodology of the informal interview in qualitative research. This paper addresses these hypotheses, which focus on the interaction between the researcher and informant, the role conflict facing the nurse researcher, the effect of the researcher's past experience on the interaction, the use of counselling strategies and the principle of self-disclosure. These hypotheses were incidental to the original area of study and were more exciting in their emergence because of this.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The grounded theory approach to data collection and analysis was used to develop a beginning midrange substantive theory about health visiting practice, which provides an explanation and understanding of how health visitors work with clients in the community during their day-to-day visiting practice.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to uncover how experienced health visitors conceptualize and evaluate their health visiting work. The grounded theory approach to data collection and analysis was used to develop a beginning midrange substantive theory about health visiting practice. The beginning theory provides an explanation and understanding of how health visitors work with clients in the community during their day-to-day visiting practice. Data were gathered from 45 experienced health visitors from 13 health authorities in the north-west of England by means of the conversational interview. The basic psychosocial problem uncovered in the data was health visitors' need to provide a service and clients' need to fulfil personal needs and goals. The unifying theme of giving and receiving integrated the major categories into the key analytic framework in this study. This key psychosocial process was the pattern of interaction between health visitors and clients, in which both parties control the interactions by regulating what they offer and accept from each other. Each party both selectively 'gives' and 'receives' in order to manage the health visitor-client encounters. What gets offered and how the offer is received and acted on is a complex process involving many factors related to the health visitor, the client, and the context in which the interaction takes place.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The professional self-concepts of senior nursing undergraduates and their perceptions of the most significant forces that influenced the process are explored, including caring qualities, caring role models, and qualities of the role models.
Abstract: This article explores the professional self-concepts of senior nursing undergraduates and their perceptions of the most significant forces that influenced the process. The method was qualitative; a grounded theory approach was used. The sample included 23 senior baccalaureate nursing students in their final clinical rotation prior to graduation. Audiotaped interviews were analyzed through the constant comparative method. Informants overwhelmingly perceived themselves as caring. They valued professional competence and many identified a lack of confidence in their skills. Caring qualities, caring role models, and qualities of the role models are listed.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The authors describe the process of generating hypotheses from empirical, qualitalive data and argue that a discovery oriented, qualitative method of hypothesis generation has great potential for the development of social work knowledge.
Abstract: This article describes the process of generating hypotheses from empirical, qualitalive data. Arguing that a discovery oriented, qualitative method of hypothesis generation has great potential for the development of social work knowledge, the paper shows how the grounded theory method originated by Glaser and Strauss (1976) builds on both induction and deduction and develops the research design over the course of the research. The conceptual framework, the research question, the sample, and the hypotheses evolve in response to the empirical patterns which the researcher discovers in the conduct of the research. The processes of hypothesis generation are demonstrated through examples taken from a research project on factors which distinguish perpetrators of child sexual abuse from persons of similar background and who have not acted out sexually with children. A discovery-oriented approach can help build social work knowledge of the situation-to-be-measured and changed.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The authors outline a means through which Hall's concepts of hegemony could be empirically empirically analyzed. But they do not discuss the theoretical foundation of such a theoretical framework, and do not consider the theoretical foundations of the work of many of today's interpretive-oriented scholars.
Abstract: Aided by the concepts of such scholars as Gramsci and Althusser, Stuart Hall has constructed a rather hybrid form of Marxist theory concerning ideology and hegemony, a middle ground of sorts between structuralism and culturalism. Hall's intriguingly sophisticated and complex ideas concerning hegemony provide a useful theoretical beginning—a critical framework— that could be empowered by a theoretical fleshing out based on systematic, phenomenologically based empirical work. Because the practical, everyday world of common sense is central to Hall's theoretical framework, it could benefit from Glaser and Strauss's process of developing grounded theory, combined with the phenomenological concepts of scholars such as Schutz, Berger and Luckmann, Garfinkel, Mead, and Blumer. In turn, the work of many of today's interpretive‐oriented scholars could benefit from critical cultural studies perspectives. The purpose of this article is to outline a means through which Hall's concepts of hegemony could be empirically...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Research findings indicate that although alcohol policies are in place, management and union leaders are unclear about their source and content, and the general employee population perceives alcohol availability and on-job drinking as poorly controlled.
Abstract: Based on a case study of an assembly plant in a large US corporation, this paper reports on cultural and environmental influences on the form and process of workplace alcohol policy. Utilizing both ethnographic and survey methods, research findings indicate that although alcohol policies are in place, management and union leaders are unclear about their source and content, and the general employee population perceives alcohol availability and on-job drinking as poorly controlled. In grounded theory fashion, two conceptual themes are employed for organizing empirical explanations of the weakened policy and under-controlled drinking. These are: (1) the dual alcohol policy dilemma, and (2) the union-management debate over authority to discipline. The ambivalent nature of alcohol policy and organizational mechanisms involved in its implementation become risk factors for developing workplace-related alcohol problems.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A qualitative study of emergent literacy of preschool hearing-impaired children was conducted to discover how the children learned about literacy within a school setting as mentioned in this paper, finding that the children, through literacy, found a way to learn about the hearing world and, more importantly, to be a part of it.
Abstract: A qualitative study of emergent literacy of preschool hearing-impaired children was conducted to discover how the children learned about literacy within a school setting. Seven preschool hearing-impaired children participated in the study. Descriptive and interpretive field notes from ongoing observations of the children constituted a primary data source. Additional data sources included drawing and writing samples from the children and interviews with the teacher and parents. Grounded theory principles were used to analyze the data. The major finding was that the children, through literacy, found a way to learn about the hearing world and, more importantly, to be a part of it.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The findings suggest that the seemingly simple work of translating is, instead, quite complex.
Abstract: The purpose of this article is to present the discoveries made in a field study which explored the nature of translators' work in community health settings. Informed by the grounded theory method, I did participant observation and had multiple conversations of varying length with translators, clients, health-care providers, and other ancillary staff. The findings suggest that the seemingly simple work of translating is, instead, quite complex. Translators are, more accurately, interpreters who appraise tasks, clients, providers, and/or information, and they hold considerable power. This article includes a consideration of the study's relevance for community health nursing practice and implications for further research.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Blumer et al. as mentioned in this paper explored incest offender perceptions of treatment in order to generate an explanatory theory of the sexual abuse treatment process, and found that incest offenders experience a remodeling process that occurs as they face discovery of their abuse and go through treatment.
Abstract: This grounded theory study explored incest offender perceptions of treatment in order to generate an explanatory theory of the sexual abuse treatment process. The research question was, "What is the process adult male incest offenders experience as they progress through treatment?" Symbolic Interactionism was the sensitizing framework for this study (Blumer, 1969). Methodology included 20 audio-taped interviews, direct observations of 65 group therapy sessions, and record analysis. The subjects were a theoretical sampling of 20 adult male incest offenders currently in, graduates of, or drop-outs from, a community sexual abuse treatment program. Constant comparative analysis was utilized to collect and analyze the data concurrently (Glaser & Strauss, 1967). Offenders indicate there is a remodeling process that occurs as they face discovery of their abuse and go through treatment. This dynamic, nonlinear, and often simultaneous remodeling process involves the offenders' worlds falling apart, the offenders t...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The perceptions of American nursing undergraduates about professional ethics were explored to link professionalism with good nursing and two concepts central to their view of good nursing were respect and caring.
Abstract: The purpose of the study was to explore the perceptions of American nursing undergraduates about professional ethics. The method was qualitative; specifically, a grounded theory approach was used. The sample comprised 23 senior baccalaureate nursing students, from a possible population of 120, who were in their final clinical rotation prior to graduation. Informants were volunteers who gave informed consent having been briefed on the purposes of the study and how their confidentiality would be protected. Data were collected through audio-taped interviews and clinical logs. Analysis was conducted through the constant comparative method. Findings revealed two concepts central to their view of good nursing. These were: (a) respect, and (b) caring. Respect was described as respect for patients and families, respect for self, colleagues and the profession. Caring was associated with showing 'concern and love', providing psychological support, getting involved, being 'cheerful and friendly' and 'taking the time' to do a good job. They did not evidence an ambiguous professional role. They espoused values consistent with the professional code of ethics. They perceived that respect for others was basic to good nursing. They believed that good nurses cared about their patients and how nursing was done. They appeared to link professionalism with good nursing.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Concatenated exploration refers at once to a research process and the resulting set of field studies that are linked together, as it were, in a chain leading to cumulative grounded theory.
Abstract: Concatenated exploration refers at once to a research process and the resulting set of field studies that are linked together, as it were, in a chain leading to cumulative grounded theory. It is a form of longitudinal, qualitative research which, unfortunately, has been largely neglected by field researchers in sociology. The methodological and theoretical foundations of concatenated exploration are set out and its advantages and disadvantages assessed. One of its important strengths is the opportunity it makes available for qualitative researchers to push the study of a set of related groups or social processes toward increased methodological and theoretical rigor (both qualitative and quantitative) without sacrificing the flexibility needed for exploration and the further development of grounded theory.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A study of the patterns of interaction in terms of relationships between clients (mother and child under 1 year of age) and public health nurses in child health care at Finnish health centres.
Abstract: Client-public health nurse relationships are considered to be important in nursing literature. However, little research in nursing has touched this area. The purpose of this paper is to describe a study of the patterns of interaction in terms of relationships between clients (mother and child under 1 year of age) and public health nurses in child health care at Finnish health centres. The qualitative data were collected by observing client-public health nurse interactions during visits. In total, 1554 interactions were observed over 2 years from 20 visits to child health centres. The grounded theory method was used in this study. Various relationships were identified between child and mother, child and public health nurse and mother and public health nurse. The relationship between child and mother during the visit was called a tender, protective and persuasive relationship. The relationship between child and public health nurse was called a persuasive and entertainment relationship. The main relationship between mother and public health nurse was called relationship supporting self-confidence. Suggestions for nursing practice and further research are made.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The need for health professionals to assess, implement a plan of care for, and evaluate patients' suffering and need for improved quality of life rather than focusing only on the elimination of pain is indicated.
Abstract: Pain is the most frequently reported symptom in the health care industry today. Chronic pain in the United States costs millions of dollars annually, and its financial impact is mounting. For individuals living in the United States, chronic pain affects nearly all normal activities and often leaves the person feeling helpless and hopeless. Literature supports the idea that chronic pain does not have the same debilitating effect in the Eastern cultures as it does in the Western cultures. Therefore, clients from both a Western and Eastern culture were studied. This qualitative research, based on grounded theory, sampled 20 persons from India and 20 from the United States. Focused, open-ended inter-views were used as the major manner of gathering data. Although the condition of chronic pain was the same for each culture, there were significant differences regarding the phenomenon of chronic pain. This research indicates the need for health professionals to assess, implement a plan of care for, and evaluate p...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Findings indicated that these students tended to see experiential learning in terms of clinical learning and learning through working in the wards and community settings.

Proceedings ArticleDOI
07 Jan 1992
TL;DR: In this article, eight experienced facilitators or process consultants participated in a laboratory study of GDSS use using an approach consistent with the ground-theory methodology, and their comments and observations subjected to preliminary content analysis.
Abstract: Eight experienced facilitators or process consultants participated in a laboratory study of GDSS use. They were interviewed using an approach consistent with the ground-theory methodology, and their comments and observations subjected to preliminary content analysis. Several areas of substantive concern for GDSS research were identified, and will serve as a basis for a stage two study of facilitator/GDSS interactions. These efforts are seen as required for the generation of theory in this new area of research which involves the interdisciplinary cooperation of behavioral and information scientists. >

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Findings indicate that health visitors' work with men was influenced by both their conceptualization of men within family-focused health visiting practice and contextual factors in the actual client-health visitor situation which enhanced or restricted interventions with men.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: While grounding soft systems research is in theory at least highly intuitively appealing, empirical research using the techniques in the way recommended here is required before the utility of the proposal can be ascertained with any degree of certainty.
Abstract: This paper suggests that Checkland's soft systems methodology (SSM) may, in certain instances, yield improved results if used in combination with Glaser and Strauss's grounded theory (GT). In order to facilitate the conjunctive use of these two qualitative approaches to social phenomena, GT is first re-interpreted through the perception filter of systems thinking. The two techniques are then subjected to analysis in terms of their ontological, epistemological and research design assumptions, from which it is concluded that there are no insurmountable barriers to their combined use. A further series of potential objections to grounding soft systems research as proposed in this paper are then raised and dealt with. Finally, it is concluded that while grounding soft systems research is in theory at least highly intuitively appealing, empirical research using the techniques in the way recommended here is required before the utility of the proposal can be ascertained with any degree of certainty.

01 Jan 1992
TL;DR: The purpose of this paper is to describe the grounded theory method; especially of the research process in studies using the method, based on the examples of authors' studies of nursing education and nursing practice.
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to describe the grounded theory method; especially of the research process in studies using the method. The article is based on the examples of authors' studies of nursing education and nursing practice. The grounded theory method is qualitative and inductive, analyzing data from the empirical world, from which categories and concepts are emerged. Analysis is made by coding and memorizing. The emerging categories will be structured, restructured and developed continually during the research process. In the final theory the concepts, the relationships between them and their internal and external differences are defined in the social process. The meaning of a good description of the research process is emphasized, because the evaluation of the research studies using grounded theory method are based on well documented research process.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Qualitative analysis of data identified categories of traditional contemporary health practices of Crow Indians, including use of rituals/ceremonies, indigenous healers, and sacred objects.
Abstract: An important element in American Indian cultures is a holistic view of wellness. Nurses attempting to provide holistic, culturally sensitive health services to American Indian clients must assess the cultural orientation of their clients and have culture-specific knowledge. A pilot qualitative study was conducted at the Crow Indian Reservation in south central Montana. Qualitative analysis of data identified categories of traditional contemporary health practices of Crow Indians. These categories are use of rituals/ceremonies, indigenous healers, and sacred objects. Five patterns of use of traditional health practices were also discovered. These are (a) initial use of traditional practices followed by modern health services, (b) initial use of modern health services followed by traditional practices, (c) simultaneous bicultural use, (d) traditional use only, and (e) modern use only.