Grounded Theory

A qualitative methodology for generating theory inductively from systematically collected and analysed data, rather than verifying theory deduced from prior frameworks. Theory is "grounded" in the sense that categories, concepts, and their relationships emerge through close engagement with the dataset.

Origins

Glaser and Strauss developed the approach in The Discovery of Grounded Theory (1967) out of their fieldwork on dying in hospitals. Their argument pushed back against mid-century sociology's preference for grand theory verification, defending the legitimacy of theory generation from qualitative data. Core procedures included theoretical sampling — selecting subsequent cases on the basis of emerging analytic needs rather than a fixed plan — and the Constant Comparison method.

Variants

The founders later split. Glaser stayed close to the 1967 formulation, treating categories as emerging from data with minimal preconception. Strauss, with Juliet Corbin, formalised the procedure in Basics of Qualitative Research (1990, multiple editions) around open, axial, and selective coding within a structured "coding paradigm" of conditions, actions/interactions, and consequences — a move Glaser publicly rejected as forcing data into a predetermined frame. Charmaz's Constructing Grounded Theory (2006) introduced the constructivist variant, repositioning categories as co-constructed by researcher and participants and treating reflexivity as integral.

Core procedures

Data collection and analysis run in parallel. Coding starts at fine grain (incident-by-incident or line-by-line) and is progressively integrated into higher-order categories. Memoing — the researcher's running analytic commentary — drives conceptual development. Sampling continues until Theoretical Saturation is reached on the core categories.

Use in applied linguistics

Grounded theory has been used to model teacher beliefs, learner motivation trajectories, and classroom interaction patterns where existing theory is thin. Pure grounded theory studies are rarer than studies that borrow individual procedures (constant comparison, theoretical sampling) without committing to full theory generation.

References

• Glaser, B. G., & Strauss, A. L. (1967). The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research. Aldine.
• Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide Through Qualitative Analysis. SAGE.
• Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of Qualitative Research: Grounded Theory Procedures and Techniques. SAGE.