Grounded Theory Research Articles

The expressive therapies continuum and mentalization-based art therapy for individuals diagnosed with a cluster B/C personality disorder: A successful marriage!

The Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) is increasingly used in various art therapy practices, including Mentalization-Based Art Therapy. However, there is little empirical evidence about the mechanisms of change and therapeutic factors of the ETC. In this study, ten respondents were interviewed to explore whether patients with a cluster B or C personality disorder consider psychoeducation about the ETC beneficial to their mentalizing capacity. The Grounded Theory Approach was applied to collect and analyse data, main categories were formed from the data and merged into a theory. According to the respondents, knowledge about the structure offered by the ETC contributed to increasing insight, providing alternative options, improving emotion regulation and increasing autonomy. This study is an exploration of the mechanisms of change and therapeutic factors of the ETC used as psychoeducational theoretical framework. Given the size and the evidential value of this study, further research is recommended.

Developing a functional framework for the rural technological innovation system; Emphasizing the irrigation systems in a rural community of central Iran

ABSTRACT Technological innovation systems have mostly been studied in cities and focused on specific technologies. As the villages are comparatively different in scale and socioeconomic and technical characteristics, the functional expectations of technology in rural environments are also different. In this regard, this study aims to identify the functions of the Rural Technological Innovation System (RTIS) in irrigation systems of rural areas in Taft County, central Iran. Applying the Grounded Theory Method, the research is conducted qualitatively. Data was gathered primarily, by interviewing the managers and experts of water, agriculture, and technology. Results identified 12 functions for RTIS, the Seven are overlapped with the functions previously proposed for other TISs. New distinct ones are ‘guaranteeing spatio-social justice’, ‘continuous monitoring and choosing appropriate technology’, ‘accountability and transparency’, ‘Positive imagery and raising hope’ and ‘ensuring sustainability and enhancing effectiveness’. Identifying the functions an RTIS should have, revealed some deficiencies the studied villages face in developing innovation and technology that are expected to be resolved by implementing an RTIS.

The role of socio-emotional attributes in enhancing human-AI collaboration.

This article delves into the dynamics of human interaction with artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing the optimization of these interactions to enhance human productivity. Employing a Grounded Theory Literature Review (GTLR) methodology, the study systematically identifies and analyzes themes from literature published between 2018 and 2023. Data were collected primarily from the Scopus database, with the Web of Science used to corroborate findings and include additional sources identified through a snowball effect. At the heart of this exploration is the pivotal role of socio-emotional attributes such as trust, empathy, rapport, user engagement, and anthropomorphization-elements crucial for the successful integration of AI into human activities. By conducting a comprehensive review of existing literature and incorporating case studies, this study illuminates how AI systems can be designed and employed to foster deeper trust and empathetic understanding between humans and machines. The analysis reveals that when AI systems are attuned to human emotional and cognitive needs, there is a marked improvement in collaborative efficiency and productivity. Furthermore, the paper discusses the ethical implications and potential societal impacts of fostering such human-AI relationships. It argues for a paradigm shift in AI development-from focusing predominantly on technical proficiency to embracing a more holistic approach that values the socio-emotional aspects of human-AI interaction. This shift could pave the way for more meaningful and productive collaborations between humans and AI, ultimately leading to advancements that are both technologically innovative and human-centric.

Factors for Consideration for Hematological Cancer Patients When Planning for Place of Death: A Constructive Grounded Theory Study.

Planning for place of death is considered troublesome for patients with hematological cancer. Qualitative studies have focused on healthcare professionals and caregivers. To date, no study has been conducted from the patient's perspective of planning for place of death in the last year of life. To develop an understanding of how patients with hematological cancer experience planning for place of death in their last year of life. The study used constructivist grounded theory, semistructured interviews, a constant comparison technique, and memoing to collect and analyze data. The 21 participants were attending a cancer center, cancer unit, or hospice in the United Kingdom. This article describes one core category, factors influencing planning for death, within the incurable hematology cancer illness trajectory through the following 2 subcategories: personal factors-driving away, developing a legacy, designing a death plan, and disease determining; and environmental factors-dependent determination, displacement of the home, and discernment of services. This critical study illustrates that planning for place of death is complex and multifaceted in conjunction with an unpredictable incurable illness trajectory. Preferences for the place of death will change over time depending on the illness trajectory experienced by patients with hematological cancer and the level of physical and emotional energy and independence afforded to discuss and plan.

Supplemental Material for A Grounded Theory of Intersectional Asian American College Student Activism

Supplemental Material for A Grounded Theory of Intersectional Asian American College Student Activism

This Smokey Thing Called Healing: A Grounded Theory Analysis of Recovery from Self-Identified C-PTSD

This Smokey Thing Called Healing: A Grounded Theory Analysis of Recovery from Self-Identified C-PTSD

Exploration of barriers to treatment for patients with eating disorders in Chile

BackgroundEating disorders (EDs) are associated with high morbidity and mortality, affecting predominantly young people and women. A delay in starting treatment is associated with chronic and more severe clinical courses; however, evidence on barriers and facilitators of access to care in Latin America is scarce. We aimed to identify barriers and facilitators of ED treatment in Chile from the perspective of patients, relatives, and health professionals.MethodsQualitative approach through semi-structured interviews with patients, their relatives, and health professionals. Participants were recruited from two ED centers in Santiago, Chile (one public and one private). Analysis was mainly based on Grounded Theory, using MAXQDA software.Results40 interviews were conducted (n = 22 patients, 10 relatives, and 8 health professionals). The mean age of patients was 21.8 years, while the mean duration of untreated ED was 91.4 months (median 70 months). Five categories emerged with intersections between them: patient (P), family and social environment (FSE), health professionals (HP), healthcare system (HCS), and social and cultural context (SCC). Relevant barriers appeared within these categories and their intersections, highlighting a lack of professional knowledge or expertise, cultural ignorance or misinformation regarding EDs, and patient’s ego-syntonic behaviors. The main facilitators were patients’ and relatives’ psychoeducation, recognition of symptoms by family members, and parents taking the initiative to seek treatment.ConclusionsThis study provides information regarding access to treatment for patients living with EDs in Chile. A practical public health approach should consider the multi-causality of delay in treatment and promoting early interventions.Plain English SummaryEating disorders (EDs) may severely affect the daily functioning of people enduring them. A delay in starting treatment is associated with a disease that is more difficult to treat. To our knowledge, there are no published studies carried out in Latin America exploring factors influencing treatment initiation in EDs patients. This study aimed to identify facilitators of and barriers to treating patients with EDs in Chile. We interviewed patients (n = 22), their relatives (n = 10), and health professionals (n = 8) from a private and a public center in Santiago, Chile. Our analysis showed that the main barriers to starting treatment were the lack of professional knowledge in ED, the monetary cost of illness, and cultural misinformation. Facilitators were related to the role of the family in recognizing and addressing the disease while being educated in EDs by professionals. This study helps to provide data about treatment access in developing countries. While facilitators and barriers were similar to others reported in the literature, the untreated ED’s duration was longer. It is essential to address these barriers to provide access to treatment more efficiently and prevent severe and enduring forms of disease.

Infrastructure, regulation and the experiences of delivery cyclists in Australian cities

On-demand delivery has changed the way cities move. Accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, bicycles are the leading mode meeting growing consumer demand, particularly for food. In Australia, this has generated considerable attention, but the voice of riders is missing. Using grounded theory to reveal rider perspectives, we combined interviews (n = 52), a naturalistic study (104 hours) and roadside video observations (216 hours) to provide the first comprehensive picture of the experiences of delivery cyclists (including parcel couriers and food delivery cyclists working in both ‘gig’ and salaried roles) in Sydney and Melbourne. Concerns about safety for food delivery cyclists have prompted some to boycott the industry, yet our research shows that there is much to celebrate. Here we report what riders say are the greatest risks to their safety and how they would like these to be addressed. The changes that riders want most relate to the built environment, particularly connected, separated infrastructure and regulation for better sharing of street space. In some cases, riders are already finding ways to enact this change.

(Conceptual) explanations in logic

Abstract To explain phenomena in the world is a central human activity and one of the main goals of rational inquiry. There are several types of explanation: one can explain by drawing an analogy, as one can explain by dwelling on the causes (see e.g. see [Woodward (2004, Making Things Happen: A Theory of Causal Explanation. Oxford University Press, Oxford)]. Amongst these different kinds of explanation, in the last decade, philosophers have become receptive to those explanations that explain by providing the reasons (or the grounds) why a statement is true; these explanations are often called conceptual explanations (e.g. see [Betti (2010, Explanation in metaphysics and Bolzano's theory of ground and consequence. Logique et analyse, 211:281316)]). The main aim of the paper is to propose a logical account of conceptual explanations. We will do so by using the resources of proof theory, in particular sequent rules analogous to deep inferences ([e.g. see Brunnler (2004, Deep Inference and Symmetry in Classical Proofs. Logoc Verlag)]). The results we provide not only shed light on conceptual explanations themselves, but also on the role that logic and logical tools might play in the burgeoning field of inquiry concerning explanations. Indeed, we conclude the paper by underlining interesting links between the present research and some other existing works on explanations and logic that have arise in recent years, e.g. see [Arieli et al. (2022, Explainable logic-based argumentation. Computational Models of Argument, 353:3243); Darwiche and Hirth (2023, On the (complete) reasons behind decisions. Journal of Logic Language and Information, 32:6388); Piazza, Pulcini, and Sabatini (2023, Abduction as deductive saturation: a proof-theoretic inquiry. Journal of Philosophical Logic, 52:15751602)]. For here it is for the empirical scientist to know the fact and for the mathematical to know the reason why (our emphasis) [Aristotle (1993, Posterior Analytics. Oxford University Press, Oxford)].

Defending Modal Platonism: reply to Builes

Abstract In a recent article, David Builes (forthcoming, Analysis) argues that one should not try to combine a Platonic account of properties with the recently popular grounding theory of powers, as proposed in Tugby’s Putting Properties First. According to Builes, Aristotelian or nominalist theories of properties are better placed to meet the explanatory demands of the grounding theory of powers. In this reply, I cast doubt on Builes’s argument.

Development and validation of the Child Hemophilia Treatment Experience Measure: A new observer-reported outcome measure.

The Child Hemophilia Treatment Experience Measure (Child Hemo-TEM) was developed to capture the treatment burden experience of children with haemophilia (CwH). Describe the development of this novel haemophilia-specific measure. Interviews were conducted with clinical experts, CwH and CwH's caregivers. Interviews were analysed according to adapted grounded theory principles. Based on the analysis, a preliminary measure was developed and debriefed. Psychometric analyses were performed according to an a priori analysis plan using data collected in a cross-sectional web survey and a final measure was generated. Interviews with four clinical experts, 25 CwH ages 8 to <12 years, and 25 caregivers of CwH <12 years were conducted. Concepts endorsed by ≥10% of CwH and caregivers were: adherence, ease of use, emotional impacts, physical impacts, treatment concerns, and interference with daily life. Cognitive debriefing assessments were conducted to ensure participant understanding and item relevance. Caregivers found the measure to be understandable, comprehensive, and relevant. However, several issues with CwH completing the measure were identified and it was decided to only develop an observer-reported outcome version. Data for psychometric validation was collected in a web survey (N=187). Item reduction dropped 12 items. Factor analysis generated a single, 7-item, internally consistent (α =.855) factor, which consisted of items covering all relevant a priori concepts. The majority of a priori convergent and all known groups validity hypotheses were confirmed. The study findings provide evidence that the Child Hemo-TEM is a brief, well-designed, and valid and reliable measure of haemophilia treatment burden.

Health Use Cases of AI Chatbots: Identification and Analysis of ChatGPT Prompts in Social Media Discourses

The popularity of ChatGPT has raised questions surrounding AI’s potential for health use cases. Since the release of ChatGPT in 2022, social media users have shared their prompts and ChatGPT responses on different topics such as health. Despite editorials and opinion articles discussing the potential uses of ChatGPT, there is a lack of a systematic approach to identify and analyze the use cases of ChatGPT in health. This study establishes a framework for gathering and identifying tweets (i.e., posts on social media site “X”, formerly known as Twitter) that discuss health use cases of ChatGPT, integrating topic modeling with constructivist grounded theory (CGT) to organize these topics into common categories. Using this framework, nine topics were identified, which were further grouped into four categories: (1) Clinical Workflow, (2) Wellness, (3), Diseases, and (4) Gender Identity. The Clinical Workflow category was the most popular category, and included four topics: (1) Seeking Advice, (2) Clinical Documentation, (3) Medical Diagnosis, and (4) Medical Treatment. Among the identified topics, “Diet and Workout Plans” was the most popular topic. This research highlights the potential of social media to identify the health use cases and potential health applications of an AI-based chatbot such as ChatGPT. The identified topics and categories can be beneficial for researchers, professionals, companies, and policymakers working on health use cases of AI chatbots.

The Creative Awareness Theory: A Grounded Theory Study of Inherent Self-Regulation in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine why and how adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience variable impairment and identify the processes and strategies adults with ADHD use to develop positive self-regulation skills. Methods: A mixed cohort of 11 participants (6 female and 5 male) from a university, an adult ADHD clinic and an ADHD support group in the UK were interviewed online between September 2021 and February 2022. Data were collected and analysed simultaneously, inspired by a constructivist grounded theory methodology. Results: Participants described a “polar awareness of difference” from others in terms of engagement and ADHD characteristics, and a “polar awareness of consciousness” experienced as the states of chaotic attention and hyperfocus, both of which impact core perceptions of self. Using an infinity paradigm, the results demonstrate unskilled attempts to self-regulate within and between these states using self-absorption or self-transcendence strategies, including their inherent challenges and energetic cost. Our results further indicate that at the centre of this dynamic paradigm, creative awareness strategies exist, which exemplify polarity awareness and the regulation of that awareness supported by an authentic inner compass (AIC). Conclusions: This paper presents the empirical foundation for the ADHD Creative Awareness Theory (CAT)—a new theory for understanding the experience of ADHD consciousness and environmental engagement. Practical implications are explored, and recommendations include use of the CAT as a framework for understanding and development of inherent self-regulation skills for adults with ADHD.

The spatiality of Collective Autoethnography: Praxis of care and (co)becoming

The increased use of autoethnography in geography has proved to be a valuable methodology to ground theory in practice. This approach provides the researcher-participant with resources to place their personal experiences in broader socio-spatial dynamics. As a group of three Latinas, we engaged with Collective Autoethnography (CAE) to explore our experiences with racial exclusion in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. By sharing our counter-stories, CAE helped us to engage in an ongoing process of (co) becoming, without essentialising our experiences. Taking the feminist ethics of care lens, we explore the politics embedded in implementing this methodology and its transformative potential. We start reflecting about the impact of our positionalities in our decision-making. Then, we discuss how the purposeful weaving of CAE with critical frameworks helped us unpack the nuances of our experiences and amplify our voices as ethnic minority migrants in Aotearoa. Finally, we explore how CAE, as a participatory approach, can inform the multiscalarity of embodied practices and inspire structural changes, which are particularly relevant when dealing with race and ethnicity. As we co-created a ‘care-full’ space throughout the research development, we suggest that CAE can also be a ‘place’ of solidarity and transformation.

Immersion In Metaverse Event Experience: A Grounded Theory

Introduction and Aim: Although there are studies on immersion in the literature, the number of studies dealing with the phenomenon of immersion in the metaverse world, which is characterized as a new virtual medium, and in metaverse activity experiences in particular, is almost negligible. In this context, a gap in the literature can be mentioned, especially in the context of focusing on the phenomenon of immersion in metaverse activities/games. Therefore, the aim of this study is to reveal the theoretical factors that reveal the immersion phenomenon perceived by people who experience the NBA 2K23 metaverse event. The results of the study may have theoretical and practical implications. Method: Using embedded theory, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 21 (12 male, 9 female) adults who experienced the NBA 2K23 metaverse event. Purposive sampling, which is widely used in qualitative research, was used, and the determination of the sample size was based on data saturation, which was underlined by Creswell (1998). The analysis process was carried out within the framework of the embedded theory method approach (Charmaz, 1983; Strauss and Corbin, 1990); applied with continuous comparative analysis while encoding each transcript; Codes and themes were created by comparing each coded case with similar coded cases, reducing data and making theoretical exemplifications. For validity and trustworthiness, Creswell (1998)'s criteria suggested to increase the quality of the research were used. Findings: Users' perceptions of immersion in the metaverse event experience can be addressed in six dimensions: Flow, Instant Pleasure, Illusional Vision, Visual Pleasure, and Personality. Flow; The individual's immersion in the game expresses the dimension in which he does not understand how time passes. In the dimension, the person falls into a state of fear, thinking that he will miss the current updates, developments and innovations. Instant gratification; While the individual is evaluated as the feeling and pleasure he experiences while playing the game, the "Illusional Vision" can be defined as the confrontation between the game and the reality. In the dimension of “Visual Pleasure”, it is the satisfaction of individuals due to a visual event in the game, the show in the game and good actions. Finally, in the dimension of "Personal Traits", the individual was evaluated as the actor he created and his or her own characteristics. Conclusion: The findings of this research provide theoretical as well as practical practical implications for the factors that determine immersion in the metaverse world. In addition to the factors such as flow and escape, which exist in the literature related to diving; visual pleasure, illusionary vision and personality traitshave also been found to exist. Managers or game/application designers who are interested in the Metaverse should be aware of these underlined factors related to immersion and benefit from strategies and approaches that will attract users/consumers and keep them in the environment, which can draw useful frameworks for success.

A risk assessment model of spontaneous combustion for sulfide ores using Bayesian network combined with grounded theory

Sulfide ores, collectively referred to as a class of minerals with extensive applications, are increasingly susceptible to spontaneous combustion incidents as the mining environment evolves. The spontaneous combustion of sulfide ores is a complex nonlinear process, and the mechanisms of which remain not fully understood. Consequently, it is challenging to delineate the accident trajectory through traditional accident causation models and subsequently construct a probabilistic model for spontaneous combustion risk. To address this issue, this paper proposed a risk assessment model based on grounded theory and Bayesian network. The advantage of this model is that it employs grounded theory to categorize and organize factors influencing the occurrence of accidents, thereby forming a clear accident trajectory and providing a framework and basis for constructing a probabilistic assessment model. Furthermore, the model presented in this paper introduces the D number theory and the Noisy-OR model to handle uncertainties in the risk assessment process and to establish more rational conditional probability tables. The findings suggest that environmental temperature, heat dissipation conditions, safety awareness, and safety skills are the most influential factors in spontaneous combustion incidents when considering a particular point in time. However, when considering the entire process of sulfide ore pile spontaneous combustion, the temperature of the ore pile is the most critical accident factor to monitor. Therefore, the key to suppressing the spontaneous combustion of sulfide ores lies in reducing environmental temperatures, enhancing heat dissipation, and elevating the safety awareness of relevant personnel.

Genetic Elements of a Long-Standing Family Business: An Analysis of Five Century-Old Family Businesses Based on Grounded Theory

Succession is a major threat to the sustainable growth of family businesses. This study proposes that the growth of a family business is a co-evolutionary process involving multiple memes, and a family business undergoes succession through memes. To address this exploratory question, the author analyzes entrepreneurial behavior in five well-known century-old Western family enterprises based on grounded theory, and constructs a deoxyribonucleic acid model of the family business. The model not only reveals the most prominent memes in the complex meme system of a family business, but also illustrates the connectivity of different strengths among the organizational memes. The implications and recommendations derived from this study indicate that family businesses should develop specialization and succession capabilities through memes, and explore different means of innovation and adaptation to realize cross-generational growth.

Enabling Societal Impact of Research: Exploring Information Behaviors of Academics and Professional Staff

ABSTRACTThere are increasing expectations, globally, that academic research provides tangible and demonstrable benefits to society. Embedding societal impact as part of research culture and practice represents a shift in how universities function; however, limited research has been conducted on the role of universities in supporting and enabling work involved in enabling societal impact of research (or impact work). This study uses a holistic, exploratory study design, with Constructivist Grounded Theory as the overarching framework, to explore the experiences, information behaviors and information environments of academic and professional staff undertaking impact work. Preliminary results indicate that academics' information behaviors relating to impact work are enacted within relationships with industry, community, and government partners, which are characterized by curiosity, reciprocity, trust, and engagement. Findings from this research will contribute new perspectives on academic information behavior and inform how universities provide support through professional services, training, and information resources.

Mapping a psychosocial syndemic among methamphetamine-using sexual minority men living with HIV.

While research with sexual minority men (SMM) has focused on disparities related to HIV, substance use and mental health, synergistic psychosocial pathways driving these epidemics remain underexplored. We used syndemic theory to assess how psychosocial factors sustain methamphetamine use and hinder recovery efforts for SMM living with HIV. A triangulation of network analyses and constructivist grounded theory approaches is utilised to elucidate pathways through which psychosocial factors influence methamphetamine use among this population. Survey data (N = 129) are used for quantitative analyses and a purposive sub-sample (n = 24) was recruited for semi-structured interviews for qualitative analyses. The network analysis revealed two statistically significant bivariate associations: between post-traumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms (b = 0.37, SD = 0.07, 95% confidence interval [0.23, 0.49]) and between depression symptoms and negative affect (b = 0.26, SD = 0.07, 95% confidence interval [0.12, 0.38]). Findings from the constructivist grounded theory analysis supplement the network analysis by offering a nuanced take on how negative affect, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression symptoms operate synergistically to promote methamphetamine use and impede recovery efforts. Participants relay experiences of using methamphetamine to cope with these psychosocial factors through avoidance, escapism, mood elevation, and numbing of emotions. Findings suggest that centring these psychosocial factors may inform more effective, holistic interventions for this high-priority population.

Explaining the Family-Centred Care of Young People With Depressive Disorders and Suicidal Ideations: A Grounded Theory Study.

This study aimed to develop a theory to guide family members caring for young people with depressive disorders and suicidal ideations. Strauss and Corbin's Grounded Theory. Theoretical sampling was used to recruit primary family caregivers (aged 22-60) of young people experiencing depressive disorders and suicidal ideations from hospitals and psychiatric clinics in Taiwan. Data were collected using interviews (n = 23) in 2023. Data were analysed using Corbin & Strauss' analytical framework, including open, axial and selective coding until theoretical saturation was reached. A paradigm model was used to link the 13 categories and develop a substantive theory to help guide family members in the care of their young persons with depressive disorders and suicidal ideations. The core category that emerged was 'Struggling to contain the young person's life by adjusting, assisting, and protecting them from diving into depression'. Other key categories interconnected with this core category were-creating a nurturing environment, adjusting to changes, protecting the young person's safety and assisting with their medical treatment. Family caregivers could use this theory as a guide to enhance the care of young persons experiencing depressive disorders and suicidal ideations and accompany them alongside the healing process. Nursing professionals could provide psychoeducation to family caregivers on how to hold the young person gently and acquire compassion for the young persons' lived experience, thoughts and emotions, by creating a nurturing environment, adjusting to changes, protecting their safety and assisting with their medical treatment. This theory provides valuable guidance for future intervention research aimed at improving family caregivers' ability to care for young persons with depressive disorders and suicidal ideations. The COREQ guidelines were utilised. No patient or public contribution.