A New Way of Cataloging Research through Grounded Theory

Abstract

Grounded theory (GT) has been extensively used in social studies through surveys and interviews. However, its application in software development has not been appropriately categorized, limiting its in-depth study in this field. Additionally, the qualitative analysis provided by GT is in increasing demand in software engineering, presenting a significant opportunity to further investigate this topic. This article discusses the identification and analysis of key GT elements beyond traditional data sources, such as research results, engineering artifacts, and written documents, and introduces the role of basic coding, master core category, and the theory emerging, thus showing a way to present the results of GT studies in software development. The study provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners interested in applying GT in software development. The article also explores the crucial role of constant comparison until saturation and the challenges it presents. Additionally, the integration of Glaserian grounded theory (GGT) with systematic mapping study (SMS) is examined, resulting in a novel approach called Glaserian systematic mapping study (GSMS), which defines saturation through three equations, providing a set of components that satisfactorily categorize GT in software development. This article discusses the identification and analysis of key grounded theory (GT) elements beyond traditional data sources in the context of software development.