Showing papers on "Grounded theory published in 2016"

Qualitative Research in Nursing and Healthcare

Abstract: Preface. Acknowledgements. Part One: Introduction to Qualitative Research: Initial Stages. 1 The Nature and Utility of Qualitative Research. What is qualitative research? The main features of qualitative research. The place of theory in qualitative research. The usefulness of qualitative research in healthcare. Choosing an approach for health research. Problematic issues in qualitative research. Conclusion. Summary. References. Further reading. 2 The Paradigm Debate: The Place of Qualitative Research. Theoretical frameworks and ontological position. The paradigm debate. Conflicting or complementary perspectives? Final comment. References. Further reading. 3 Initial Steps in the Research Process. Selecting and formulating the research question. The literature review. Writing a research proposal. Access and entry to the setting. Summary. References. Further reading. 4 Ethical Considerations. The basic ethical framework for research. Ethics in qualitative research. Researching one's peers. The research relationship. Research in the researcher's workplace. The role of research ethics committees. Summary. References. Further reading. 5 The Issue of Supervision. The responsibilities of supervisor and student. Writing and relationships. Practical aspects of supervision. Single or joint supervision. Problems with supervision. Summary. References. Further reading. Part Two: Data Collection. 6 Interviewing. Interviews as sources of data. The interview process. Types of interview. Probing, prompting and summarising. The social context of the interview. Unexpected outcomes: qualitative interviewing and therapy. Length and timing of interviews. Recording interview data. The interviewer-participant relationship. Problematic issues and challenges in interviewing. Interviewing through electronic media. Ethical issues in interviewing. Strengths and weaknesses of interviewing. Summary. References. Further reading. 7 Participant Observation and Documents as Sources of Data. Participant observation. The origins of participant observation. Immersion in culture and setting. Documentary sources of data. Images as sources of data. Summary. References. Further reading. 8 Focus Groups as Qualitative Research. What is a focus group? The origin and purpose of focus groups. Sample size and composition. Conducting focus group interviews. Analysing and reporting focus group data. Advantages and limitations of focus groups. Critical comments on focus group interviews in healthcare. Summary. References. Further reading. 9 Sampling and Site Selection. Purposeful (or purposive) sampling. Sampling types. Sampling decisions. How shall we name them? Summary. References. Part Three: Approaches to Qualitative Research. 10 Ethnography. The historical perspective. A focus on culture. Ethnographic methods. Ethnography in healthcare. The main features of ethnography. Fieldwork. Doing and writing ethnography. Pitfalls and problems. Summary. References. Further reading. 11 Grounded Theory. History and origin. The main features of grounded theory. Data collection, theoretical sampling and analysis. Pitfalls and problems. Glaser's critique and further development. Constructivist grounded theory. Which approach for the health researcher? Summary. References. Further reading. 12 Narrative Inquiry. The nature of narrative and story. Narrative research. Types of narrative. Illness narratives. Narrative interviewing. Narrative analysis. Problematic issues. Conclusion. Summary. References. Further reading. 13 Phenomenology. Intentionality and the early stages of phenomenology. Schools of phenomenology. The phenomenological research process: doing phenomenology. Procedures for data collection and analysis. Phenomenology and health research. Choice of approach: descriptive or interpretive phenomenology. Summary. References. Further reading. 14 Action Research. What is action research? The origins of action research. Action research in healthcare. The main features of action research. Practical steps. Trustworthiness in AR. Problems and critique. Summary. References. Further reading. 15 Additional Approaches. Case study research. Conversation analysis. Critical incident technique. Discourse analysis. Feminist research. Performative social science. Conclusion. References. Further reading. 16 Mixed Methods: Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Research. The nature of mixed methods studies. Doing mixed methods research. Types of mixed methods research. The place and purpose of the literature. Triangulation. Critique of MMR. Conclusion. Summary. References. Further reading. Part Four: Data Analysis and Completion. 17 Data Analysis: Procedures, Practices and Computers. The process of data analysis. Coding and categorising. Problems of QDA. Computer-aided analysis of qualitative data. Problems and critique. Summary. References. Further reading. 18 Establishing Quality: Trustworthiness or Validity. Quality. An alternative perspective: trustworthiness. Trustworthiness. Strategies to ensure trustworthiness. Quality and creativity. Summary. References. Further reading. 19 Writing up Qualitative Research. The research account. Use of the first person. The format of the report. Critical assessment and evaluation. Guide to appraisal. Publishing and presenting the research. Summary. References Further reading. Glossary. Index.

Preparing for Interview Research: The Interview Protocol Refinement Framework

Abstract: Interviews provide researchers with rich and detailed qualitative data for understanding participants' experiences, how they describe those experiences, and the meaning they make of those experiences (Rubin & Rubin, 2012). Given the centrality of interviews for qualitative research, books and articles on conducting research interviews abound. These existing resources typically focus on: the conditions fostering quality interviews, such as gaining access to and selecting participants (Rubin & Rubin, 2012; Seidman, 2013; Weiss, 1994); building trust (Rubin & Rubin, 2012); the location and length of time of the interview (Weiss, 1994); the order, quality, and clarity of questions (Patton, 2015; Rubin & Rubin, 2012); and the overall process of conducting an interview (Brinkmann & Kvale, 2015; Patton, 2015). Existing resources on conducting research interviews individually offer valuable guidance but do not come together to offer a systematic framework for developing and refining interview protocols. In this article, I present the interview protocol refinement (IPR) framework--a four-phase process to develop and fine-tune interview protocols. IPR's four-phases include ensuring interview questions align with the study's research questions, organizing an interview protocol to create an inquiry-based conversation, having the protocol reviewed by others, and piloting it. Qualitative researchers can strengthen the reliability of their interview protocols as instruments by refining them through the IPR framework presented here. By enhancing the reliability of interview protocols, researchers can increase the quality of data they obtain from research interviews. Furthermore, the IPR framework can provide qualitative researchers with a shared language for indicating the rigorous steps taken to develop interview protocols and ensure their congruency with the study at hand (Jones, Torres, & Arminio, 2014). IPR framework is most suitable for refining structured or semi-structured interviews. The IPR framework, however, may also support development of non-structured interview guides, which have topics for discussions or a small set of broad questions to facilitate the conversation. For instance, from a grounded theory perspective, piloting interview protocols/guides are unnecessary because each interview is designed to build from information learned in prior interviews (Corbin & Strauss, 2015). Yet, given the important role the first interview plays in setting the foundation for all the interviews that follow, having an initial interview protocol vetted through the recursive process I outline here may strengthen the quality of data obtained throughout the entire study. As such, I frame the IPR framework as a viable approach to developing a strong initial interview protocol so the researcher is likely to elicit rich, focused, meaningful data that captures, to the extent possible, the experiences of participants. The Four-Phase Process to Interview Protocol Refinement (IPR) The interview protocol framework is comprised of four-phases: Phase 1: Ensuring interview questions align with research questions, Phase 2: Constructing an inquiry-based conversation, Phase 3: Receiving feedback on interview protocols Phase 4: Piloting the interview protocol. Each phase helps the researcher take one step further toward developing a research instrument appropriate for their participants and congruent with the aims of the research (Jones et al., 2014). Congruency means the researchers' interviews are anchored in the purpose of the study and the research questions. Combined, these four phases offer a systematic framework for developing a well-vetted interview protocol that can help a researcher obtain robust and detailed interview data necessary to address research questions. Phase 1: Ensuring Interview Questions Align With Research Questions The first phase focuses on the alignment between interview questions and research questions. …

Analysing Qualitative Data in Psychology

Abstract: Analysing Qualitative Data in Psychology equips students and researchers in psychology and the social sciences to carry out qualitative data analysis, focusing on four major methods (grounded theory, interpretative phenomenological analysis, discourse analysis and narrative analysis). Assuming no prior knowledge of qualitative research, chapters on the nature, assumptions and practicalities of each method are written by acknowledged experts. To help students and researchers make informed methodological choices about their own research the book addresses data collection and the writing up of research using each method, while providing a sustained comparison of the four methods, backed up with authoritative analyses using the different methods.

Grounded theory in software engineering research: a critical review and guidelines

Abstract: Grounded Theory (GT) has proved an extremely useful research approach in several fields including medical sociology, nursing, education and management theory. However, GT is a complex method based on an inductive paradigm that is fundamentally different from the traditional hypothetico-deductive research model. As there are at least three variants of GT, some ostensibly GT research suffers from method slurring, where researchers adopt an arbitrary subset of GT practices that are not recognizable as GT. In this paper, we describe the variants of GT and identify the core set of GT practices. We then analyze the use of grounded theory in software engineering. We carefully and systematically selected 98 articles that mention GT, of which 52 explicitly claim to use GT, with the other 46 using GT techniques only. Only 16 articles provide detailed accounts of their research procedures. We offer guidelines to improve the quality of both conducting and reporting GT studies. The latter is an important extension since current GT guidelines in software engineering do not cover the reporting process, despite good reporting being necessary for evaluating a study and informing subsequent research.

(Mis)conceptualising themes, thematic analysis, and other problems with Fugard and Potts’ (2015) sample-size tool for thematic analysis

Abstract: One of us (VC) was having a conversation with a student recently about the origins and history of thematic analysis (TA). The student had read Qualitative Research in Counselling and Psychotherapy (McLeod, 2011), a text which presents TA as a variant of grounded theory. Victoria commented that she thought that TA evolved from content analysis, and therefore predated grounded theory, and discussed her recent discovery of the use of a variant of TA in psychotherapy research in the 1930s-1950s. The student let out a heavy sigh and slumped in her chair, bemoaning her ability to ever fully grasp qualitative research in all its complexity. This reaction is not uncommon. Students learning and implementing qualitative research at times find it bewildering and challenging; simple models of ‘how to do things’ can appear to offer reassuring certainty. But simplified models, especially if based in confidently-presented-yet-partial accounts of the field or an approach, at best obfuscate and at worst lead to poor quality research. In our discipline (psychology), students typically learn about qualitative research only after they have been fully immersed in the norms, values and methods of scientific psychology. Many find it difficult to let go of what we call a ‘quantitative sensibility’. For such students, and others not well versed in a qualitative sensibility, Fugard and Potts’ (2015) tool for determining sample sizes in TA research has great intuitive appeal; it provides a life-raft to cling to in the sea of uncertainty that is qualitative research. Thus, we share Hammersley’s (2015) concerns that their tool will be used by funding bodies and others (e.g. editors, reviewers) to determine and evaluate sample sizes in TA research. We fear it will result in further confusion about, and further distortion of, the assumptions and procedures of qualitative research. We here build on concerns expressed by others (Byrne, 2015; Emmel, 2015; Hammersley, 2015) to briefly highlight why this quantitative model for qualitative sampling in TA is problematic, based on flawed assumptions about TA, and steeped in a quantitative logic at odds with the exploratory and qualitative ethos of much TA research.

Qualitative HCI Research: Going Behind the Scenes

Abstract: HCI addresses problems of interaction design: evaluating existing designs, delivering novel designs, and understanding user needs for future designs. Qualitative methods have an essential role to play in this enterprise, particularly in understanding user needs and behaviors and evaluating situated use of technology. In this lecture, we draw on the analogy of making a documentary film: historically, the film was presented as a finished product, giving the viewer little insight into the production process; more recently, there has been a trend to go 'behind the scenes' to expose some of the painstaking work that went into creating the raw footage behind the film; but still much essential work remains hidden. Similarly, in qualitative research, the essential work 'behind the scenes' is rarely discussed. There are many "how to" guides for particular methods, but few texts that discuss the important details of how to select a suitable method, how to adapt it to fit the study context, or how to deal with unexpected challenges that arise. We address this gap by presenting a repertoire of techniques for understanding user needs, practices and experiences with technology, including practical considerations such as tactics for recruiting participants when aiming for a particular sampling strategy, and ways of getting started when faced with a pile of interview transcripts. We present illustrative case studies drawn from prior experience. Our particular focus is on semi-structured qualitative studies, which occupy a space between ethnography and surveys, typically involving observations, interviews and similar methods for data gathering, and methods for analysis based on systematic coding of data. Just as a documentary team faces challenges that often go unreported when arranging expeditions or interviews, gathering footage or editing the story, within time and budget pressures, so the qualitative research team faces challenge in obtaining ethic

Machine Translation: Mining Text for Social Theory

Abstract: More of the social world lives within electronic text than ever before, from collective activity on the web, social media, and instant messaging to online transactions, government intelligence, and digitized libraries. This supply of text has elicited demand for natural language processing and machine learning tools to filter, search, and translate text into valuable data. We survey some of the most exciting computational approaches to text analysis, highlighting both supervised methods that extend old theories to new data and unsupervised techniques that discover hidden regularities worth theorizing. We then review recent research that uses these tools to develop social insight by exploring (a) collective attention and reasoning through the content of communication; (b) social relationships through the process of communication; and (c) social states, roles, and moves identified through heterogeneous signals within communication. We highlight social questions for which these advances could offer powerful ...

The Policy Dystopia Model: An Interpretive Analysis of Tobacco Industry Political Activity.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Tobacco industry interference has been identified as the greatest obstacle to the implementation of evidence-based measures to reduce tobacco use. Understanding and addressing industry interference in public health policy-making is therefore crucial. Existing conceptualisations of corporate political activity (CPA) are embedded in a business perspective and do not attend to CPA's social and public health costs; most have not drawn on the unique resource represented by internal tobacco industry documents. Building on this literature, including systematic reviews, we develop a critically informed conceptual model of tobacco industry political activity. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We thematically analysed published papers included in two systematic reviews examining tobacco industry influence on taxation and marketing of tobacco; we included 45 of 46 papers in the former category and 20 of 48 papers in the latter (n = 65). We used a grounded theory approach to build taxonomies of "discursive" (argument-based) and "instrumental" (action-based) industry strategies and from these devised the Policy Dystopia Model, which shows that the industry, working through different constituencies, constructs a metanarrative to argue that proposed policies will lead to a dysfunctional future of policy failure and widely dispersed adverse social and economic consequences. Simultaneously, it uses diverse, interlocking insider and outsider instrumental strategies to disseminate this narrative and enhance its persuasiveness in order to secure its preferred policy outcomes. Limitations are that many papers were historical (some dating back to the 1970s) and focused on high-income regions. CONCLUSIONS: The model provides an evidence-based, accessible way of understanding diverse corporate political strategies. It should enable public health actors and officials to preempt these strategies and develop realistic assessments of the industry's claims.

Applying Constant Comparative Method with Multiple Investigators and Inter-Coder Reliability

Abstract: When qualitative research methods are used, data analysis may be completed by an individual or a group of two or more people. Researchers accustomed to completing independent data analysis may be surprised by the large amount of additional time and effort that working with a research group requires. Collaboration adds complexity to the work of data analysis and formulating findings, making a collaborative qualitative study more labor intensive (Miles & Huberman, 1994). Additional coordination and iteration are required for the qualitative coding process for creating themes, analyzing for meaning, and drawing conclusions. When members of a research team are geographically separated and working in a virtual environment, data analysis may be more challenging. However, the collaboration provides several benefits that derive from the additional perspectives provided by multiple researchers. In striving for consensus in the findings, the nuances in meaning brought by multiple researchers adds richness to the analysis by prompting deeper analysis. Inter-coder reliability (ICR) can be used to drive towards consensus but was found to be more suited for identifying nuance and significant meanings in the qualitative data. This paper explores the experiences of two geographically separated researchers who applied Constant Comparative Method (CCM), based on grounded theory. The researchers applied action research to formulate a deliberate 10-step method for coding data, creating meaning, and structuring an exploratory model that represents findings. Collaboration was facilitated through synchronous online video discussions and email exchanges to work through analysis activities between the two researchers. Literature Review Literature on qualitative research, and specifically on the CCM methodology used by the researchers performing this study, reveals a diversity of positions that reflect the richness of qualitative research (Strauss & Corbin, 1998). There are supporters and opponents to qualitative research in general and CCM in particular. This review begins with a basic explanation of the approach that differentiates qualitative research from quantitative; then explores the methods used in qualitative research to address issues common to quantitative researchers involving validity and reliability. Finally, the review will focus on the literature concerning advantages, disadvantages, and potential roles of ICR measures in CCM. Inductive Approach The original purpose of qualitative methods was to design a structured approach for generating new theory that purports to explain an experience or phenomenon for which current understanding is inadequate. Qualitative research uses inductive reasoning (i.e., developing explanations from information) rather than the deductive (i.e., using theory to predict outcomes based on information) to draw conclusions from data. It explores a deliberately selected set of data, such as interviews, observations, or video/audio logs, to identify patterns that can be linked causally in a model or theory (Thomas, 2003). Models generated by qualitative theory can be tested using quantitative methods to provide further support for the theory. Quantitative research uses existing theory to generate a question or hypothesis that can be tested empirically (Curry, Nembhard, & Bradley, 2009). Grounded Theory Grounded theory is a qualitative research method developed to facilitate discovering patterns in data (Glaser & Strauss, 1967). It uses a systematic approach to review participant views collected from an experience in order to allow patterns and themes to emerge over multiple passes through the data. Strauss (1987) further elaborated on the data analysis methodology, creating CCM, in which the researcher developed codes while reviewing transcripts or other verbatim data to identify constructs, and iteratively compared texts identified with the same code to ensure they were representative of the same construct. …

A qualitative meta-analysis examining clients' experiences of psychotherapy: A new agenda.

Abstract: This article argues that psychotherapy practitioners and researchers should be informed by the substantive body of qualitative evidence that has been gathered to represent clients' own experiences of therapy. The current meta-analysis examined qualitative research studies analyzing clients' experiences within adult individual psychotherapy that appeared in English-language journals. This omnibus review integrates research from across psychotherapy approaches and qualitative methods, focusing on the cross-cutting question of how clients experience therapy. It utilized an innovative method in which 67 studies were subjected to a grounded theory meta-analysis in order to develop a hierarchy of data and then 42 additional studies were added into this hierarchy using a content meta-analytic method-summing to 109 studies in total. Findings highlight the critical psychotherapy experiences for clients, based upon robust findings across these research studies. Process-focused principles for practice are generated that can enrich therapists' understanding of their clients in key clinical decision-making moments. Based upon these findings, an agenda is suggested in which research is directed toward heightening therapists' understanding of clients and recognizing them as agents of change within sessions, supporting the client as self-healer paradigm. This research aims to improve therapists' sensitivity to clients' experiences and thus can expand therapists' attunement and intentionality in shaping interventions in accordance with whichever theoretical orientation is in use. The article advocates for the full integration of the qualitative literature in psychotherapy research in which variables are conceptualized in reference to an understanding of clients' experiences in sessions. (PsycINFO Database Record

Situational Analysis in Practice : Mapping Research with Grounded Theory

Abstract: Situational Analysis creates analytic maps of social processes and relationships identified using grounded theory. Creator of the method, award-winning sociologist Adele E. Clarke and two co-editors show how the method can be, and has been, used in a variety of critical qualitative studies. The book-Updates the basic concepts and methods of situational analysis, a methodology created by Clarke;-Provides five important case studies of its use in a variety of health and educational settings;-Offers reflections from the original researchers on the studies and their impact;-Includes lists of published articles and available websites focused on situational analysis.

Feedback and the educational alliance: examining credibility judgements and their consequences.

Abstract: Context Several recent studies have documented the fact that, in considering feedback, learners are actively making credibility judgements about the feedback and its source. Yet few have intentionally explored such judgements to gain a deeper understanding of how the process works or how these judgements might interact to influence engagement with and interpretation of feedback. Using the educational alliance framework, we sought to elaborate an understanding of learners’ credibility judgements and their consequences. Methods Using constructivist grounded theory we conducted semi-structured interviews with psychiatry residents. We used a theoretical sampling approach that invited participants with diverse scores based on a previously published feedback survey and an investigator-developed educational alliance inventory. Consistent with the principles of grounded theory analysis, data were collected and analysed in an iterative process to identify themes. Results Participants depicted themselves as actively contemplating feedback and considering it thoughtfully in light of complex judgements regarding their supervisor, the relationship with their supervisor and the larger context in which the feedback interactions were occurring. These judgements focused on the supervisor's credibility both as a clinician and as a partner in the educational alliance. The educational alliance is judged by trainees in relation to the supervisor's engagement as an educator, commitment to promoting growth of residents and positive attitude toward them. Conclusions Our findings suggest that credibility is a multifaceted judgement that occurs not only at the moment of the feedback interaction but early in and throughout an educational relationship. It not only affects a learner's engagement with a particular piece of feedback at the moment of delivery, but also has consequences for future engagement with (or avoidance of) further learning interactions with the supervisor. These findings can help medical educators develop a more meaningful understanding of the context in which feedback takes place.

Research framework, strategies, and applications of intelligent agent technologies (IATs) in marketing

Abstract: In this digital era, marketing theory and practice are being transformed by increasing complexity due to information availability, higher reach and interactions, and faster speeds of transactions. These have led to the adoption of intelligent agent technologies (IATs) by many companies. As IATs are relatively new and technologically complex, several definitions are evolving, and the theory in this area is not yet fully developed. There is a need to provide structure and guidance to marketers to further this emerging stream of research. As a first step, this paper proposes a marketing-centric definition and a systematic taxonomy and framework. The authors, using a grounded theory approach, conduct an extensive literature review and a qualitative study in which interviews with managers from 50 companies in 22 industries reveal the importance of understanding IAT applications and adopting them. Further, the authors propose an integrated conceptual framework with several propositions regarding IAT adoption. This research identifies the gaps in the literature and the need for adoption of IATs in the future of marketing given changing consumer behavior and product and industry characteristics.

What is grounded theory

Abstract: Grounded theory (GT) is a research method concerned with the generation of theory,1 which is ‘grounded’ in data that has been systematically collected and analysed.2 It is used to uncover such things as social relationships and behaviours of groups, known as social processes.3 It was developed in California, USA by Glaser and Strauss during their study—‘Awareness of Dying’.1 It is a general methodology for developing theory that is grounded in data which is systematically gathered and analysed. First the area of interest is identified. Theoretical preconceptions should be avoided, although it is accepted this is difficult in practice. Analytical procedures and sampling strategies are then used and the study is finished when theoretical sampling reached5 all discussed below. Data collected may be qualitative or quantitative or a combination of both. Data collection methods often include in-depth interviews using open-ended questions. Questions can be adjusted as theory emerges. Observational methods and focus groups may also be used. Glaser and Strauss (1967) first mentioned theoretical sampling and described a process of generating theory from data which includes collecting the data, then coding …

Cross-Sector Partnerships and the Co-creation of Dynamic Capabilities for Stakeholder Orientation

Abstract: This paper explores the relationship between business experience in cross-sector partnerships (CSPs) and the co-creation of what we refer to as ‘dynamic capabilities for stakeholder orientation,’ consisting of the four dimensions of (1) sensing, (2) interacting with, (3) learning from and (4) changing based on stakeholders. We argue that the co-creation of dynamic capabilities for stakeholder orientation is crucial for CSPs to create societal impact, as stakeholder-oriented organizations are more suited to deal with “wicked problems,” i.e., problems that are large, messy, and complex (Rittel and Webber, Policy Sciences 4:155–169, 1973; Waddock, Paper presented at the 3rd international symposium on cross sector social interactions, 2012). By means of a grounded theory approach of inductive research, we collected and interpreted data on four global agri-food companies which have heterogeneous experience in participating in CSPs. The results of this paper highlight that only companies’ capability of interacting with stakeholders continually increases, while their capabilities of sensing, learning from, and changing based on stakeholders first increase and then decrease as companies gain more experience in CSP participation. To a large extent, this can be attributed to the development of corporate strategies on sustainability after a few years of CSP participation, which entails a shift from a reactive to a proactive attitude towards sustainability issues and which may decrease the need or motivation for stakeholder orientation. These findings open up important issues for discussion and for future research on the impact of CSPs in a context of wicked problems.

Focus Group Data Saturation: A New Approach to Data Analysis

Abstract: The qualitative research "gold standard" for quality research is data saturation. The limited literature on reporting data saturation and transparency in qualitative research has supported an inconsistent research standard suggesting researchers have not adequately reported data saturation to promote transparency (O'Reilly & Parker, 2012). Confusion regarding how to analyze qualitative data to achieve data saturation, how to write clear qualitative research findings, and present these findings in a usable manner continues (Sandelowski & Leeman, 2012). A phenomenological asynchronous online focus group using WordPress[R] was employed to answer the research question. Based on the current literature on the topic of focus group data saturation, the study findings were analyzed by group, individual, and day of the study. Additionally, the data was presented in a chart format providing a visible approach to data analysis and saturation. Employing three different methods of data analysis to confirm saturation and transparency provides qualitative researchers with different approaches to data analysis for saturation and enhancement of trustworthiness. Placing data in a visual configuration provides an alternative method of presenting research findings. The data analysis methods presented are not meant to replace existing methods of achieving data saturation but to provide an alternate approach to achieving data saturation and reporting the findings in a clear, usable format. Keywords: Qualitative Research, Focus Group, Data Saturation, Trustworthiness The qualitative research "gold standard" for quality research is data saturation. Instead of relying on the number of participants, qualitative research focuses on different perspectives and opinions of participants. The limited literature on reporting data saturation and transparency in qualitative research has supported an inconsistent research standard suggesting researchers have not adequately reported data saturation to promote transparency (O'Reilly & Parker, 2012). Confusion regarding how to analyze qualitative data to achieve data saturation, how to write clear qualitative research findings, and present these findings in a usable manner continues (Sandelowski & Leeman, 2012). This article provides a new approach for analyzing phenomenological focus group data for saturation and presenting usable findings. Focus Group Study A 10-day phenomenological focus group employed an asynchronous online research design in a quest to understand the lived experience of male registered nurses (RNs) seeking employment in healthcare organizations, particularly when choosing a nursing specialty. Institutional Research Board (IRB) approval was obtained from the University of Phoenix. Five open-ended interview questions were posted on the study's WordPress[R] website. Participants were required to answer the five interview questions and respond to two fellow study participants to facilitate discussion. The participants were able to view the postings of each participant during the study promoting interaction. Eight male RNs completed the 10-day study. Data saturation was set at five responses per theme and subtheme. Trustworthiness criteria were met. Saturation: Current Approach Thematic data saturation is reached when there are no new emerging ideas in the data (Bowen, 2008; Houghton, Casey, Shaw, & Murphy, 2013; O'Reilly & Parker, 2012). As noted by Kerr, Nixon, and Wild (2010), the term data saturation is best described as data adequacy meaning no new information is obtained. Complicating the issue of data saturation is the lack of evidence and guidelines in current qualitative research in how to reach data saturation (Bowen, 2008; Francis et al., 2010; Kerr et al., 2010). O'Reilly and Parker (2012) discuss saturation noting that the idea of data saturation begins with the qualitative research method of grounded theory and specific theory-driven meanings. …

How do People Make Sense of Unfamiliar Visualizations?: A Grounded Model of Novice's Information Visualization Sensemaking

Abstract: In this paper, we would like to investigate how people make sense of unfamiliar information visualizations. In order to achieve the research goal, we conducted a qualitative study by observing 13 participants when they endeavored to make sense of three unfamiliar visualizations (i.e., a parallel-coordinates plot, a chord diagram, and a treemap) that they encountered for the first time. We collected data including audio/video record of think-aloud sessions and semi-structured interview; and analyzed the data using the grounded theory method. The primary result of this study is a grounded model of NOvice's information Vlsualization Sensemaking (NOVIS model), which consists of the five major cognitive activities: encountering visualization , constructing a frame , exploring visualization , questioning the frame , and floundering on visualization . We introduce the NOVIS model by explaining the five activities with representative quotes from our participants. We also explore the dynamics in the model. Lastly, we compare with other existing models and share further research directions that arose from our observations.

The Effect of Professional Development on Teacher Efficacy and Teachers’ Self-Analysis of Their Efficacy Change

Abstract: Abstract The current study examined the effect of an online professional development learning experience on teachers’ self-efficacy through 148 (Male=22; Female=126) K-12 teachers and school educators. The Teachers’ Self-Efficacy Scale (TSES) developed by Tschannen- Moran and Woolfolk Hoy (2001) was administered twice with a five-week gap. Additionally, all participants’ descriptive self-analysis of their own score change was examined to analyze teachers’ attributions of their self-efficacy change. Both quantitative and qualitative methodologies were used to analyze the data. The findings indicated that teacher efficacy increased as a result of their online professional development experience. Participants’ self-analysis of their efficacy change provided some possible explanations for mixed reports for the influence of experience on teacher efficacy.

Artefacts and agile method tailoring in large-scale offshore software development programmes

Abstract: Context: Large-scale offshore software development programmes are complex, with challenging deadlines and a high risk of failure. Agile methods are being adopted, despite the challenges of coordinating multiple development teams. Agile processes are tailored to support team coordination. Artefacts are tangible products of the software development process, intended to ensure consistency in the approach of teams on the same development programme.Objective: This study aims to increase understanding of how development processes are tailored to meet the needs of large-scale offshore software development programmes, by focusing on artefact inventories used in the development process.Method: A grounded theory approach using 46 practitioner interviews, supplemented with documentary sources and observations, in nine international companies was adopted. The grounded theory concepts of open coding, memoing, constant comparison and saturation were used in data analysis.Results: The study has identified 25 artefacts, organised into five categories: feature, sprint, release, product and corporate governance. It was discovered that conventional agile artefacts are enriched with artefacts associated with plan-based methods in order to provide governance. The empirical evidence collected in the study has been used to identify a primary owner of each artefact and map each artefact to specific activities within each of the agile roles.Conclusion: The development programmes in this study create agile and plan-based artefacts to improve compliance with enterprise quality standards and technology strategies, whilst also mitigating risk of failure. Management of these additional artefacts is currently improvised because agile development processes lack corresponding ceremonies.

Marianismo and Caregiving Role Beliefs Among U.S.-Born and Immigrant Mexican Women

Abstract: Objectives We aimed to explore how women of Mexican-origin conceptualized caregiving as a construct in terms of cultural beliefs, social norms, role functioning, and familial obligations. We examined the personal experiences of U.S-born and immigrant Mexican female caregivers to identify how these 2 groups differed in their views of the caregiver role. Methods We conducted 1-time in-depth interviews with 44 caregivers living in Southern California. Our study was guided by marianismo, a traditional role occupied by women in the Mexican family. We analyzed data from a grounded theory approach involving the constant comparative method to refine and categorize the data. Results The majority of all caregivers had similar views about caregiving as an undertaking by choice, and almost all caregivers engaged in self-sacrificing actions to fulfill the marianismo role. Despite these similarities, U.S.-born and immigrant caregivers used different words to describe the same concepts or assigned different meanings to other key aspects of caregiving, suggesting that these 2 groups had different underlying motivations for caregiving and orientations to the role. Discussion Our findings highlight the complexity of language and culture in underlying caregiving concepts, making the concepts challenging to operationalize and define in a heterogeneous sample of Latinos.

Applying Grounded Theory to Investigating Change Management in the Nonprofit Sector

Abstract: Grounded theory is well supported as a qualitative research method that historically responded to the epistemological challenges of defining knowledge and determining how it has been acquired. Whil...

Interviews with digital seniors: ICT use in the context of everyday life

Abstract: The literature on the digital divide suggests that seniors continue to lag behind in access to the Internet, digital skills, and engagement in various online activities. Much of the research, however, gains insight from large-scale survey research and neglects to examine the challenges and opportunities that digital seniors, those who are connected, experience in their everyday use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). We employed the theoretical lens of ICT use in the context of everyday life to inform this study. Twenty-one digital seniors (60 +) took part in interviews about how ICTs influenced their routines and practices such as news consumption, library use, information seeking, and reading. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using grounded theory. Three key findings emerged. First, digital seniors are developing new practices and routines around their ICT use; these are novel and emerge out of ICTs’ affordances. Second, digital seniors are creating hybrid practices...

Development of a Sense of Belonging for Privileged and Minoritized Students: An Emergent Model

Abstract: This article reports findings from a constructionist grounded theory study with 51 first-year college students. We explored student definitions and development of a sense of belonging during their first year of college. Belonging for all participants was shaped by 3 themes: environmental perceptions, involvement, and relationships. Yet, there were vast differences in the ways students from privileged and minoritized social identity groups defined belonging and made meaning of the 3 emergent themes. A model of belonging for privileged and minoritized college students is presented.

Social media use by physicians: a qualitative study of the new frontier of medicine

Abstract: A growing number of physicians are using social media as a professional platform for health communication. The purpose of this study was to understand perspectives and experiences of these “early adopter” physician bloggers and social media users. This was an exploratory qualitative study involving in-depth semi-structured telephone interviews of physicians who were early adopters, defined as physicians who used social media to distribute health information. Participants were recruited through snowball sampling. Interview transcripts were manually analyzed for common themes by three separate investigators who came to common conclusions via the constant comparative method. Seventeen physicians participated in this study, including 35 % females, 76 % pediatricians and 76 % bloggers. Participants identified multiple perceived benefits and barriers to social media use by physicians; further, four major themes were identified. First, participants often saw themselves as rugged individualists who set their own rules for social media health communications. Second, participants expressed uncertainty about boundaries or strategies for social media use. Third, participants described using social media much like traditional media, as a one-way communication platform, rather than as an interactive forum. Finally, participants expressed disparate views regarding the time involved in participating in social media; some felt that time spent on social media was unproblematic to fit into their day while others felt that it was an impediment to patient care. Uncertainty remains regarding roles and responsibilities of physicians providing medical content within social media forums and few providers appeared to be using the platform to its full potential. Future studies may inform best practices to optimize social media health communication to benefit patients.

Theorizing How Art Gallery Interventions Impact People With Dementia and Their Caregivers

Abstract: Dementia refers to a variety of diseases that are characterised by cognitive difficulties and an overall decline in daily living skills. Psychologically-informed arts and health programmes may be particularly beneficial ways of improving the lives of people with dementia and their caregivers. This study sought to better understand how programmes at contemporary and traditional art galleries might play a role in the lives of people with dementia. Participants included 12 people with mild to moderate dementia, their 12 caregivers and 4 gallery facilitators. Those with dementia and their caregivers were engaged in art-viewing followed by art-making over an 8 week period. Data, collected through post-intervention interviews with participants, field notes and extensive written communication between the facilitators and research team, were analysed using grounded theory methodology to theorise how gallery-based interventions affect people with dementia and those who care for them. The emerging theory has four primary components: the art gallery is seen as being a physically-valued place that provides intellectual stimulation and offers opportunities for social inclusion that can change how dementia is perceived. These components coalesced to create positive emotional and relational effects for those with dementia and caregivers. The resulting theory has potential implications for the use of gallery-based programmes in dementia care within public health, healthcare and museum/art gallery policy and practice.