A study note on the grounded theory analysis and theoretical sampling (information from perplexity.ai)
My question 1: "What is Grounded Theory Analysis (notably on open coding, axial coding, and selective coding) for theoretical sampling all about, with reference to Business Management and Housing Studies dissertation projects?"
The reply: "Grounded Theory Analysis is a qualitative research method used to develop new theories inductively from data, rather than testing existing hypotheses. It is particularly useful in fields like Business Management and Housing Studies for exploring complex social phenomena and generating grounded, data-based theories.
Core Components of Grounded Theory Analysis
Open Coding
Open coding is the initial phase where data are broken down into discrete parts and examined line-by-line to identify concepts, ideas, and categories. Researchers label segments of data with codes that capture their essence without preconceived categories, allowing for discovery and exploration of emerging themes. This process involves detailed reading and re-reading of transcripts or textual data to generate a broad set of initial codes that represent the data's diversity and complexity16.
Axial Coding
Axial coding follows open coding and involves reassembling the data by identifying relationships between categories and subcategories. This phase connects the dots by linking codes into meaningful patterns and organizing them around central concepts. The goal is to explore how different categories relate to each other, often using visual tools like diagrams to map these connections. Axial coding helps to build a coherent structure or framework that explains the phenomenon under study16.
Selective Coding
Selective coding is the final coding phase where the researcher refines and integrates categories to develop a core category or central theme that captures the essence of the research. This stage involves selecting the most significant codes and systematically relating them to form a grounded theory that explains the studied phenomenon comprehensively. The core category serves as the "storyline" linking all other categories and providing a theoretical explanation146.
Theoretical Sampling in Grounded Theory
Theoretical sampling is a dynamic and iterative process of data collection guided by the emerging theory. Unlike purposive sampling, where participants are selected before data collection based on fixed criteria, theoretical sampling involves selecting new participants or data sources during the research process to explore, confirm, or challenge developing concepts. Researchers continuously analyze data and decide whom to sample next to refine and saturate the theory until no new relevant data emerge (theoretical saturation)27.
Application in Business Management and Housing Studies Dissertation Projects
Business Management: Grounded theory is valuable for understanding managerial behaviors, organizational processes, and market dynamics grounded in real-world data. For example, researchers use open coding to identify initial concepts from interviews with managers, axial coding to link these concepts into organizational frameworks, and selective coding to develop theories explaining business phenomena such as knowledge management or consumer behavior. Theoretical sampling enables iterative data collection focused on refining emergent management theories relevant to dynamic business contexts34.
Housing Studies: Grounded theory helps explore complex social issues like housing decisions and community impacts. For instance, a study interviewing residents near industrial wind energy facilities used grounded theory to uncover how proximity to such projects influenced housing choices. Open coding captured residents’ experiences, axial coding connected themes like health concerns and coping strategies, and selective coding developed a theory about decision-making processes under difficult circumstances. Theoretical sampling allowed the researcher to include diverse participants across different contexts to ensure a comprehensive understanding5.
In summary, Grounded Theory Analysis with its coding phases-open, axial, and selective-provides a rigorous framework for inductively generating theories from qualitative data. Theoretical sampling supports this process by guiding iterative data collection aligned with the evolving theory. This methodology is well-suited for dissertation projects in Business Management and Housing Studies where understanding complex, context-specific phenomena is essential.
References:
Open, axial, and selective coding break down, connect, and synthesize data to build new theories16.
Theoretical sampling involves iterative participant selection based on emerging data and theory development27.
Applications in Business Management focus on grounded theory’s ability to explain organizational and market dynamics34.
Applications in Housing Studies highlight its use in capturing lived experiences and decision-making processes in complex social settings5."
My question 2: "What challenges might a Business Management or Housing Studies dissertation student face when applying grounded theory analysis?"
The reply: "Students undertaking dissertation projects in Business Management or Housing Studies who apply Grounded Theory Analysis often face several challenges:
Challenges in Applying Grounded Theory Analysis
1. Complexity and Understanding of the Method
Grounded Theory (GT) has multiple strands and versions (e.g., Glaserian, Straussian), which can be confusing for newcomers. Gaining a clear overview of the method and its iterative coding processes (open, axial, selective) is often difficult14.
Students may struggle to balance the structured coding procedures with the creativity required to generate theory, especially when using more formulaic versions like Strauss and Corbin’s approach4.
2. Coding and Theory Development
Developing codes and categories from raw data through open, axial, and selective coding demands meticulous attention and iterative refinement. This can be time-consuming and intellectually demanding, particularly for doctoral students managing large volumes of qualitative data24.
Linking categories meaningfully to build a coherent grounded theory requires skill and experience, which novice researchers may lack2.
3. Theoretical Sampling and Data Saturation
Theoretical sampling requires ongoing decisions about whom to sample next based on emerging theory, which can be challenging to manage logistically and methodologically. It demands flexibility and responsiveness during data collection, which may be difficult in constrained dissertation timelines3.
Achieving theoretical saturation-where no new themes emerge-can be hard, especially in contexts with limited access to participants or when studying complex social phenomena3.
4. Context-Specific Challenges in Business Management and Housing Studies
In Housing Studies, issues such as low population density, zoning bylaws, and dispersed participants complicate sampling and data collection, making it difficult to gather sufficient and diverse data for theory development3.
Business Management dissertations may face challenges in accessing organizational participants willing to share candid insights, and in dealing with complex organizational contexts that require nuanced interpretation4.
5. Validity and Subjectivity Concerns
Maintaining validity and minimizing researcher bias is a challenge, as grounded theory analysis involves interpretive work. Independent reviews and triangulation are recommended but may be resource-intensive3.
Researchers must carefully document their analytic decisions and reflexivity to ensure transparency and credibility34.
6. Time and Resource Constraints
Grounded theory is labor-intensive due to its iterative process of data collection, coding, memoing, and theory refinement. Dissertation students often find it difficult to allocate sufficient time and resources to complete this process thoroughly2.
In summary, dissertation students in Business Management and Housing Studies applying Grounded Theory Analysis must navigate methodological complexity, intensive coding and theory-building tasks, challenges in theoretical sampling and saturation, contextual difficulties specific to their fields, and concerns about validity and time management. Awareness of these challenges and planning to address them-such as conducting pilot studies, seeking methodological guidance, and employing peer review-can improve the quality and feasibility of their grounded theory research.
4 On Utilizing Grounded Theory in Business Doctoral Research - IJDS"
See also a note on convenience sampling, peer sampling and snowball sampling.
A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.
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