What is grounded theory?
Grounded theory is a qualitative research method introduced by sociologists Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss in The Discovery of Grounded Theory (1967). Rather than pulling hypotheses from existing theory and testing them, researchers analyze interviews, field notes and documents to build a new theory that's "grounded" in the data. It's especially common in nursing, social work, education and management dissertations.
Core procedures
- Constant comparison: each new piece of data is compared with earlier data and emerging concepts to refine categories.
- Theoretical sampling: instead of fixing the sample up front, you recruit people or settings that can develop the concepts that are emerging.
- Memo-writing: you keep notes on ideas and relationships between categories as you go.
- Theoretical saturation: you stop collecting when new data no longer adds new properties to your categories.
How does coding work?
| Stage | What you do |
|---|---|
| Open coding | Break data into small chunks, label concepts and group them into categories |
| Axial coding | Link categories and subcategories, often with a paradigm model |
| Selective coding | Choose a core category and integrate everything into a storyline |
Strauss and Corbin's (1990) paradigm model connects categories through causal conditions, the central phenomenon, context and intervening conditions, action/interaction strategies, and consequences.
Schools of thought and critiques
| School | Key idea |
|---|---|
| Glaserian (classic) | Let theory emerge from the data; wary of preset frameworks |
| Straussian | Offers concrete procedures like the paradigm model |
| Constructivist (Charmaz) | Meaning is co-constructed by researcher and participants |
Grounded theory shines when you need to explain processes and experiences that haven't been studied much, but critics say it leans heavily on researcher interpretation and offers limited generalizability. Comparing it with quantitative research methods, which test hypotheses with numbers, makes the contrast clear. Despite the similar name, it's different from evidence-based practice.
FAQ
- Is grounded theory the same as evidence-based practice?
- No. Grounded theory is a qualitative method for building theory from data; evidence-based practice means applying the best available research to real-world decisions.
- How many participants do I need?
- There's no fixed number; you collect until you reach theoretical saturation. Many dissertations end up with roughly 10 to 30 participants.
Sources reviewed: 2026-10-25
References
- Glaser, B. G., & Strauss, A. L. (1967). The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research. Chicago: Aldine.
- Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of Qualitative Research: Grounded Theory Procedures and Techniques. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
- Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide through Qualitative Analysis. London: Sage.