Grounded Theory Research Articles

Lost and changed meaning in life of people with Long Covid: a qualitative study

ABSTRACTLong Covid (LC) has been called the greatest mass-disabling event in human history. For patients, LC not only has implications for quality of life but also for meaning in life: how one’s life and the world are understood and what is seen as valuable in one’s life. This qualitative empirical study used a Constructivist Grounded Theory approach to investigate the meaning in life of people struggling with LC through ten patient interviews. This study shows that patients lose their prior understanding of life and come to a changed meaning in life, in part due to the experienced (social) isolation and loss of (both physical and cognitive) abilities caused by LC. Moreover, patients struggled with acceptance, uncertainty, and the inherent incomprehensibility and uncontrollability that living with LC entails, though this simultaneously co-existed with hope, optimism and acceptance. Additionally, dimensions of meaning intersect; a patient having some understanding of their illness (dimension of meaning: comprehension) required an understanding Other (dimension of meaning: connection). Emerging from lockdown brought the challenge and isolation of adjusting to chronic illness in society as usual (albeit divided about COVID-19 measures). This study thus offers novel insights regarding changed, present, and sought meaning in life for LC patients.

Consumer Inertia to Continued use of Mobile Payment Services for Retail Transactions: A Grounded Theory Study

Consumer Inertia to Continued use of Mobile Payment Services for Retail Transactions: A Grounded Theory Study

Constructing a grounded theory of grit in sport: understanding the development and outcomes of long-term passion and perseverance in competitive athletes

ABSTRACT To be successful, athletes are expected to overcome the many setbacks and demands of sport throughout the entirety of their competitive career. Grit – or passion and perseverance over long terms – has been linked to positive outcomes in the sport domain, but progress in the field has been hindered by a lack of sufficient theory. The purpose of this study was to construct a grounded theory of competitive athletes’ grit in sport, and constructivist grounded theory methodology was adopted. Twenty-seven participants (14 women, 13 men; 22 athletes, 5 coaches) involved in competitive sport participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Data analysis involved an iterative process of initial coding, focused coding, axial coding, and theoretical integration. Results showed grit to be a malleable dispositional tendency that was formed over time as athletes amassed significant sport experiences. With the encouragement from supportive others, athletes would adopt adaptive cognitions about success and failure. These cognitions would then develop into a propensity to identify and strive towards long-term goals in sport. Participants described grit as leading to several outcomes, including sport-specific goal achievement, adaptive outcomes, and maladaptive outcomes. Our research advances the study of grit in sport by providing researchers and practitioners a deeper understanding of the processes that encapsulate competitive athletes’ sport-specific grit. Implications for practice (e.g., how sport support persons might foster grit in athletes) and recommendations for future research (e.g., improving the measurement of grit in sport) are also discussed.

Priorities and expectations of researchers, funders, patients and the public regarding the funding of medical research: results from the PERSPECT qualitative study

BackgroundIdeally, medical research provides crucial data about disease processes, diagnoses, prognoses, treatment targets and outcomes, and systems of care. However, medical research is costly, and funding is difficult to receive...

Exploring telemedicine and organizational challenges in the healthcare system: a qualitative analysis using Grounded Theory.

Telemedicine is a context-specific intervention that implies significant procedural changes in a health organization. The objective of the study is to explore healthcare professionals' usage of and perceptions towards telemedicine technology and identify the perceived factors and related process change, influencing the effective adoption of telemedicine from an organizational perspective. The study includes multi-disciplinary commentaries of a purposive sample of 31 healthcare professionals, conducted through semi-structured qualitative interviews and employs Grounded Theory and Thematic Analysis techniques to analyze the data. Telemedicine is perceived as a highly beneficial digital intervention in healthcare, focusing on the delivery of effective healthcare, and promoting healthcare equity. Healthcare professionals showed their willingness to assimilate technology into clinical decision-making, resulting in better treatment outcomes, and recommended its' adoption into mainstream healthcare as a viable approach to providing remote healthcare. The key organizational issues with telemedicine adoption were system requirements, network connectivity, non-standardized medical records, and legal bottlenecks, that can be addressed by improving infrastructural convenience, optimizing service processes, imparting training, and adopting better technical measures. The focus is on exploring factors significant for the adoption of telemedicine technology from the perspective of multi-specialties in a health organization, rather than a specific specialty, as studied in previous scholarly work. This study contributes to the theory by proposing a conceptual framework on critical factors for telemedicine adoption, integrating the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and diffusion of innovation (DOI).

South Korean Provincial Government’s Introduction of the International Baccalaureate and Its Educational Effects on Middle School Students: A Grounded Theory Study

In South Korea, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) has been implemented in public education for several years. This article explores the IB MYP’s characteristics and educational effects by adopting the grounded theory research approach of Corbin and Strauss (1990, 2015). A total of 27 students from three public middle schools offering the IB MYP in one Korean city participated in interviews. Through the interviews, 151 concepts, 41 sub-categories, and 22 categories were identified. Compared to conventional Korean education, the IB MYP’s noticeable traits include student-centered classes, inquiry-based learning, interdisciplinary subjects, writing-centered tests, and an emphasis on the IB learner profile. While these differences may initially pose difficulties for Korean students, they can lead to positive outcomes in the cognitive and affective domains, as well as in interpersonal relationships. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the Korean provincial government should develop a long-term vision both nationally and internationally.

Brand Corporateness: Measurement and Symbolic Meaning of an Unfavorable Brand Association

Abstract This research establishes brand corporateness as a novel brand association that most consumers find unfavorable. Exploratory focus group findings first illuminate consumer meaning structures and attitudes around brand corporateness. An inductive grounded theory approach suggests three core (hierarchical, mechanistic, opaque) and three ancillary (ubiquitous, traditional, strategic) dimensions of the construct, informing a subsequent literature review that theoretically confirms this structure. Our theorizing also suggests that greater corporateness diminishes consumers’ self-brand connection because the symbolic meanings of its core dimensions clash with several fundamental human values, a negative effect that is heightened among more politically liberal consumers. The main empirical work then develops and validates a measure of brand corporateness across eleven studies using best practices in scale development. After a rigorous item generation and refinement process, our studies provide converging evidence for the scale’s structural, nomological, discriminant, predictive, and ecological validity.

A Model to Strengthen the Quality of Midwifery Education: A Grounded Theory Approach

A well-educated midwifery workforce is critical to providing quality health services. However, the quality of midwifery education in Nigeria is identified as a factor contributing to the country’s poor maternal and neonatal health outcomes and inability to meet global development goals. This study aimed to analyse the process used to strengthen the quality of midwifery education with the aim of generating a middle-range model to prepare competent and confident midwifery graduates. The Strauss and Corbin version of the Grounded Theory approach that is underpinned by the Social Constructivism Paradigm was adopted for this qualitative study. Strengthening the quality of midwifery education (SQME) emerged as the model’s core phenomenon. Major concepts, including the midwifery education context, nature of the curriculum, SQME process, pillars, and outcomes, supported the core phenomenon. Strengthening the quality of midwifery education can be achieved over a long time provided the pillars of SQME are deep-rooted to sustain the process of strengthening the quality of midwifery education. The model can be used to strengthen the quality of midwifery education and may be adapted to nursing/allied health programmes in Nigeria and other developing countries.

Exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and shift to online formats on hearing voices group facilitators in the UK

ABSTRACT Background This study explores the impact on Hearing Voices Group (HVG) facilitators on the rapid shift to using video-teleconferencing communication (VTC) to host HVGs triggered by the COVID-19 global pandemic. Method A qualitative, interview-based design was implemented, adopting a Grounded Theory approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven HVG facilitators from across the UK using VTC. Results Nine major themes were identified with four overarching thematic categories; (1) Societal reality & change; (2) Increased reliance on technology; (3) Impact on groups; (4) Impact on facilitator role. Discussion A preliminary theory is presented which discusses the inter-relating impact on facilitators and HVGs, in the context of increased reliance on technology, social reality and social change. The recurring themes of limited understanding of and access to IT, and the lack of support structures for HVG facilitators need addressing to support the future efficacy of VTC-mediated HVGs. Limitations are discussed alongside suggestions for future practice.

Scoping review and thematic analysis of informed consent in humanitarian emergencies

BackgroundTo identify and to summarize challenges related to the informed consent process for research completed during humanitarian emergencies.MethodsUsing relevant search terms, a search of 5 databases was completed, without language, date, or study type restriction. Studies were screened for inclusion, with eligible studies being those that were relevant to the informed consent process for research studies completed in humanitarian emergencies. A Grounded Theory Analysis was completed to identify themes and subthemes.ResultsReview identified 30 relevant studies. We identified 11 challenges (lack of trust, therapeutic misconception, reduced capacity, security and privacy concerns, harmful research, power differential, literacy, language/local and cultural context, researcher burden and re-evaluation of ongoing trials) and 7 strategies (engage local research communities, use alternative to standard written consent process, modify traditional process of research ethics board review, dynamic consent, training of research staff, mandating transparency of commercial interests, and mandating reporting of informed consent process in all publications) to confront the challenges. These challenges and strategies were unique to the informed consent process in research conducted during humanitarian emergencies.ConclusionsThis scoping review identified an evidence-based guide for researchers and research ethics boards to perform ethical informed consent procedures in humanitarian emergencies.Trial RegistrationThis trial was not registered as scoping reviews can not be registered as per updated PROSPERO guidelines.

Effective Academic Leadership in Clinical Departments of Medical Universities: A Grounded Theory

Universities of Medical Sciences as the organizations that provide human resources for the health systems need effective leaders who can promote the medical status of the countries. In this regard, the present qualitative grounded theory study is an attempt to design an effective leadership model for departments of clinical education. The study identified causal conditions, background, confounding variables, consequences, and the central theme of “belief in effective leadership” to determine formation process of effective leadership. Based on the study findings, effective leadership model was designed for clinical education departments of medical universities. The distinguishing aspect of this model compared to the previously presented models of academic leadership is creation of the belief of effective leadership in medical sciences universities. This distinguishing factor emphasizes the academic leader’s recognition of their immediate environment, university, department and their selves.

Sustainable Craft Culture: Socio‐Cultural Drivers and Economic Impact on Sustainable Development

ABSTRACTThe craft culture of West Bengal, India, is deeply rooted in rich socio‐cultural traditions and plays a crucial role in advancing economic development and sustainability. This study explores the intricate socio‐cultural drivers that shape West Bengal's craft culture and examines their profound impact on sustainable development. The research delves into the historical, religious, and social dynamics that influence both the commercialization and preservation of traditional crafts. The qualitative study was performed using Grounded Theory and laddering technique, which highlighted the significance of cultural preservation, identity, and community engagement while illuminating the close relationship between craftspeople and their trade. The quantitative study highlights that the craft industry is influenced by eight major factors. It was further identified that the factors having the major impact were Perceived Cultural Preservation, Perceived Cultural Identity, Community Engagement, and Education and Awareness, highlighting the crucial role these areas play in maintaining and advancing West Bengal's craft culture. When considered collectively, the studies offer a thorough grasp of the cultural relevance influencing West Bengal's artisan traditions. By bridging the gap between cultural preservation and economic imperatives, this study provides a comprehensive framework for supporting the resilience and vitality of traditional crafts in the contemporary global landscape.

Enhancing project success through value-creating social interactions: insights from project managers in Iranian governmental organizations

Purpose Despite significant advancements in project processes, tools and systems, overall project success rates have not markedly improved. Recent studies underscore the importance of “value creation” as a key factor in enhancing project outcomes, particularly through the interaction between project managers and employees. However, there remains a critical gap in understanding how project managers can effectively leverage daily social interactions to foster cooperation and create value in complex, temporary and high-pressure environments typical of project-based organizations. This study aims to address this gap by exploring the lived experiences of project managers in governmental project-based organizations, focusing on how they use social interactions as a strategic tool for value creation. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with various groups of project managers using open-ended questions, selected through the snowball sampling method. The collected data were then analyzed qualitatively using grounded theory techniques. Findings The findings indicate that project managers can foster value creation in the minds of employees by employing a range of behavioral strategies in the workplace. The effectiveness of these strategies, however, is influenced by the prevailing social culture within the project implementation site. Originality/value Consequently, understanding and adopting the appropriate behavioral approaches depend on the project’s unique social context. In conclusion, this research sheds light on the most effective parameters for value creation through social interactions in project spaces.

When Is Teasing Abuse? A Grounded Theory of Teasing Among Mexican American Adolescent Dating Couples

This study examined the use of teasing during observed videotaped interactions of Mexican American adolescent dating couples ( N = 34; 15–17 years old) from an urban area of the Southwest United States. During the interaction task, couples discussed two relationship problems for 14 min and nearly all interactions (88.2%) contained teasing. In turn, we developed a grounded theory of teasing that delineated who initiated the teasing (boys/girls), teasing types, levels of severity of teasing incidents, youth’s motivations for teasing, and the resulting consequences of teasing in real time. We found that most teasing incidents were mild to moderately severe and that girls initiated teasing to a greater extent than boys. Regarding motives, youth used teasing to exert power during the interaction and/or to repair a problem in the relationship. Despite various types of teasing, the resulting consequences were hurt feelings, power struggles, and shame. Participants overtly stated that they desired improved communication. We recommend that socioemotional learning and dating violence prevention programs include teasing as part of conflict resolution skill sets and that these programs be informed by the cultural values of Mexican-origin youth.

A dimensional exploration and scale development study of algorithm aversion

The increased use of AI in business has spurred an explosion in algorithm aversion research. The absence of scientific measurement instruments has caused the empirical research on the structural dimensions and measurement scales of algorithm aversion to stagnate, and the field is currently just in the exploratory stages of investigation. The results of experimental research and polls on algorithm aversion and appreciation may not be as broadly applicable as they may be because roughly two thirds of them used U.S. samples. Thus, extending from previous research, this work applies grounded theory to investigate the dimensionality of the structural dimensions of algorithm aversion using data from Chinese user interviews as well as the MicroBlog, Zhihu, and CSDN corpus. The scale was tested through the processes of questionnaire, exploratory factor analysis, and validation factor analysis to construct the scale of algorithmic aversion. The study finds five dimensions of algorithm aversion: Algorithm power gameplay, Algorithm user lock-in, Algorithm cognitive bias, Algorithm recommendation preference, and Recommendation algorithm adoption. The scale has a good level of validity and reliability and comprises 22 items. The findings of this study will support theoretical underpinnings for AI marketing and practical research on algorithm aversion in recommendation systems.

Experiencias docentes frente a la virtualidad durante la pandemia por covid-19: principales desafíos y estrategias de afrontamiento

This study aims to analyze the main challenges faced by teachers when adapting to virtuality during the COVID-19 pandemic, considering the particular circumstances of each one, in order to obtain relevant information on their ability to adapt and develop skills in this educational context. A qualitative methodology based on a Grounded Theory design was used, which allowed the elaboration of explanatory categories to identify the main challenges and coping strategies implemented by teachers in the face of the virtualization of education during the pandemic context. The data was collected through open questions, which facilitated the detailed compilation of their experiences. 421 teachers of different levels and educational modalities from two Argentine provinces participated in the study. The results allow identifying pedagogical, technological, communication, individual and family challenges. On the other hand, they highlight the development of adaptation, training and communication strategies. The results invite us to rethink virtuality, as an educational opportunity that allowed promoting collaboration, creativity and innovation. Educators adapted and faced challenges with determination, leaving a mark on educational history and providing valuable learning to strengthen education in the future.

Artificial intelligence, emotional labor, and the quest for sociological and political imagination among low-skilled workers

Abstract This study examines how generative AI impacts low-skilled workers in their daily professional lives, how it changes the nature of their work, and what, if any, strategies they develop to cope with this new reality. Emphasis is placed on call center agents—an occupational group facing a particularly high automation risk. Drawing on Constructivist Grounded Theory and semistructured interviews in an Austrian call center, we uncover how flawed generative AI tools have increased emotional labor among these workers. This increase is hypothesized to result in agents’ inability to embed their own problems in the larger social context of generative AI’s impact on the labor market, let alone to politicize these problems. They were thus said to lack sociological and political imagination. Our study is the first to link emotional labor with these forms of imagination among low-skilled workers, offering new analytical tools for future research on generative AI’s nuanced effects on the labor market. To empower low-skilled workers, foster their imaginations and address their concerns, we propose several policy recommendations, including targeted education campaigns, enhanced social dialogue, co-determination rights, and tailored upskilling programs. This study thus offers a valuable contribution to scientific research while providing practical implications for policymakers.

Spanish-Speaking Latinas with Pelvic Floor Disorders: Understanding the Misunderstood.

Challenges to providing care to Spanish-speaking Latinas with pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) are well studied. Limited data exist on patient and provider perspectives on the unique challenges in providing language-discordant care. Our study was aimed at highlighting these challenges and providing evidence-based recommendations on how to optimize the care of these women. Both Spanish-speaking patients with PFDs and non-Spanish speaking providers at the University of South Florida were recruited for this study. Interviews were conducted by a single bilingual interviewer. Topics included providers' experiences, specifically barriers, when caring for Spanish-speaking Latinas, and patients' experiences, focusing on differences between Spanish and non-Spanish speaking providers, while receiving care for PFDs. All interviews were analyzed using grounded theory qualitative methods. Thirteen interviews were conducted, 7 Spanish-speaking Latinas with PFDs and 6 non-Spanish-speaking urogynecology providers. Qualitative analysis yielded three major themes noted by both patients and providers: cultural stigma, barriers influencing care, and behavioral adaptations to language discordance. Concepts identified from these themes included: generational shame and embarrassment, aversion to treatment, interpreter use barriers, lack of resources, accommodation between patient and provider, and time constraints. Culturally competent recommendations were made based on study findings and review of the literature to improve care of Spanish-speaking Latinas. This study highlights common themes experienced by both patients and their non-Spanish-speaking providers caring for Spanish-speaking Latinas. The study provides recommendations and implementable strategies that can improve care and help providers to build a stronger therapeutic relationship with Spanish-speaking Latinas.

Research on Integrated Management Path of Comorbidity Based on Grounded Theory.

This study seeks to thoroughly investigate the generation mechanism of the integrated management pathway for comorbidities, as well as its implementation and execution in practical settings. The findings aim to offer insights for the development of an integrated mechanism for comorbidity services. The collected raw data was coded and analyzed in depth by utilizing grounded theory as the research methodology, in conjunction with NVivo 14.0 software for qualitative analysis, and by adhering to domestic and international guidelines and consensus on comorbidity management. Following the three-level coding process, a total of 49 initial categories, 14 main categories, and 4 core categories (supply-type, demand-type, collaboration-type, and environment-type) were identified. Subsequently, a four-dimensional comprehensive comorbidities management pathway model, referred to as the "Derivative driving force-management pathway-main body network-operation mechanism," was developed. The model integrates the four paths of supply-type, demand-type, collaboration-type, and environment-type with the derived dynamics, subject network, and operation mechanism of comorbidities management. This not only enhances the comprehensiveness and continuity of comorbidities management but also establishes clear direction and evaluation indices for future empirical research.

Evaluation of Instructor Capability: Perspective from Building Information Modeling Competition Students in Mainland China

Building information modelling (BIM) technology, which has experienced rapid development, has become the focus of digital education learning in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) related disciplines. However, BIM education is still confronted with the disconnection between theoretical education and engineering practice. In mainland China, BIM competitions are an important digital platform for higher education practice teaching. As the organizer and leader of student participants, BIM instructors, especially their BIM capability, have an important impact on digital education. Previous research on BIM capability did not involve the field of BIM education, and the existing BIM capability framework is not entirely applicable to evaluating the BIM capability of instructors. Semi-structured interviews based on grounded theory (GT) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to construct a five-dimensional model containing 23 capability indicators. The research findings highlighted the multi-dimensional nature of BIM capability for instructors and indicated that personnel capability was the most important for instructors, while process capability was considered the most dispensable. This is significantly different from the emphasis on technical and process capability in BIM capability research in the traditional AEC industry. It was also found that students from different levels of universities and different educational backgrounds had different demands for the BIM capability of instructors. The results of this study will help universities select excellent instructors, improve the quality of BIM education in universities, and cultivate more outstanding BIM talents for the development of BIM in the AEC industry, thereby promoting the digital practice of BIM education in universities.