Grounded tTheory is a systematic methodology in the social sciences involving the construction of

theory through the analysis of data.[1][2] Grounded theory is a research methodology which operates
almost in a reverse fashion from social science research in the positivist tradition. Unlike positivist
research, a study using grounded theory is likely to begin with a question, or even just with the
collection of qualitative data. As researchers review the data collected, repeated ideas, concepts or
elements become apparent, and are tagged with codes, which have been extracted from the data.
As more data are collected, and as data are re-reviewed, codes can be grouped into concepts, and
then into categories. These categories may become the basis for new theory. Thus, grounded theory
is quite different from the traditional model of research, where the researcher chooses an existing
theoretical framework, and only then collects data to show how the theory does

GROUNDED THEORY - DATA ANALYSIS

In grounded theory, because the theory develops from the
data as it is collected and analysed, the process of
analysis takes place from the first time that data begins to
be collected and continues until the research study is
completed. Once sufficient data have been collected and
transcribed, it is possible for you to progress to the next
stage - the building of an indexing system for the data.
The initial stage of coding consists of indexing from the
text (of interviews, etc.) following an exploration of all
topics that are considered to be important or interesting.
These are then labelled according to their possible
relevance to the subject of the study. The aim of this step
is to build up a list of relevant topics that have arisen from
the interviews and that are considered essential to the
subject under investigation. These indexes are
constructed following an exhaustive analysis of the text.

Eventually a series of categories, concepts or codes are

built up which start to explain the phenomena that are
emerging from the study. This process continues as data
is collected - the analysis of data within the grounded
theory context is very much a dynamic process. Codes
and concepts are added, amalgamated, or removed as
new data emerges that causes you to rethink what you
have discovered - and possibly to change it.
Following the constant comparison analysis method, the
codes and concepts identified in the preliminary coding
analysis are now refined, extended, and cross-referenced.
This takes place over three processes, namely:
not apply to the phenomenon under study.[3]