Developing grounded theoreticalundeepinings from the literature?

Grounded theory is a research methodology that involves developing theories from data that is systematically gathered and analyzed. In order to develop grounded theoretical underpinnings from the literature, researchers must first conduct a thorough review of existing literature on the topic of interest. This review should include both theoretical and empirical studies that provide insights into the phenomenon being studied.

Once the literature review is complete, researchers can begin the process of data collection and analysis. This typically involves collecting data through interviews, observations, or document analysis, and then systematically analyzing the data to identify patterns, themes, and relationships.

As the analysis progresses, researchers can begin to develop theoretical underpinnings that are grounded in the data. This may involve identifying key concepts, relationships, and processes that emerge from the data, and using these to develop a theoretical framework that explains the phenomenon being studied.

Throughout this process, researchers should continually compare their emerging theoretical underpinnings with the existing literature to ensure that their findings are consistent with previous research. By developing grounded theoretical underpinnings from the literature, researchers can generate new insights and theories that are firmly rooted in empirical data, making their research more robust and credible.

Steps to Develop Grounded Theoretical Underpinnings from the Literature

1. Conduct a comprehensive literature review:

- Systematically search for relevant literature in academic databases, books, and grey literature sources.
- Focus on studies that address similar problems or phenomena as your research topic.

2. Extract key concepts and themes:

- Identify the main ideas, concepts, and relationships discussed in the literature.
- Code and categorize these concepts to identify patterns and relationships.

3. Identify theoretical gaps and inconsistencies:

- Examine the areas where the literature is lacking or where there are conflicting viewpoints.
- Identify gaps in knowledge and inconsistencies in theoretical explanations.

4. Develop an initial grounded theory:

- Based on the extracted concepts and identified gaps, formulate a theoretical framework that explains the underlying processes and mechanisms related to your research topic.
- The theory should be rooted in the literature and supported by evidence.

5. Develop theoretical propositions:

- Specify the relationships between the key concepts in your theory.
- Translate the theoretical framework into testable hypotheses or propositions.

6. Refine and validate the theory:

- Collect empirical data through research methods (e.g., interviews, observations, experiments).
- Test the propositions and refine the theory based on the findings.
- Iterate between data collection and theory development until saturation is reached.

7. Write up the theoretical underpinnings:

- Summarize the key concepts, propositions, and evidence supporting your grounded theory.
- Explain how the theory contributes to existing knowledge and addresses research gaps.
- Discuss the implications of the theory for further research and practice.

Tips:

- Use qualitative data analysis software (e.g., NVivo, Atlas.ti) to facilitate coding and data management.
- Engage in peer review or discussions to obtain feedback on your evolving theory.
- Be open to revising and adapting the theory as new evidence emerges.