Grounded Theory Research Articles

Towards a Versatile and Impactful Qualitative Research Paradigm: A Comprehensive Guide to Grounded Theory for Organizational Researchers

Cathy Urquhart's Grounded Theory for Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide (2nd ed.) provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the grounded theory methodology. The book explores the historical development of grounded theory, its diverse approaches, and applications, empowering readers to make informed decisions about the research method. Urquhart emphasizes the importance of reflexivity, theoretical sensitivity, and the role of the researcher, encouraging a participant-centered approach. The book's coverage of key concepts, practical exercises, and strategies for overcoming challenges make it an indispensable resource for researchers and teachers in fields like information systems and organizational studies. Urquhart also highlights promising avenues for the future development of grounded theory, such as the integration of digital technologies and cross-cultural applications.

A Grounded Theory Exploration of Addictions Treatment Within a Commercial Airline Setting.

INTRODUCTION: An Australasian Airline's Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Program demonstrates abstinence rates that exceed those of general AOD programs. The reasons for this are unclear. The purpose of this research was to develop a theory as to why this program is successful.METHODS: A qualitative examination following grounded theory methodology was undertaken. AOD program patients and healthcare professionals were interviewed until content saturation was reached. Data analysis followed grounded theory to identify the key concepts associated with the program's success.RESULTS: The core theory that emerged highlighted the pivotal roles of a strong employee-company relationship, shared values, and a safety-focused culture in explicating the program's success. This moves beyond the "carrot and stick" model of motivation, where belonging to this organization and safety consciousness serve as powerful drivers for abstinence. Challenges and barriers highlighted some unique challenges to the program in managing the coronavirus pandemic and the difference in approach to substance use in community spaces versus safety-critical employment.DISCUSSION: This research expands the understanding of this AOD program's success in a safety-critical industry, emphasizing the elements of a working relationship that are beyond positive or negative reinforcement. Future research should work to quantify and test the generalizability of these findings.Nairn J, Bell E, Myers J, Higgins M, Johnston B, Newton-Howes G. A grounded theory exploration of addictions treatment within a commercial airline setting. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2024; 95(6):313-320.

Development of equity, diversity, and inclusion competencies in residents and faculty in oncology through formal and informal learning.

9053 Background: In recent years, a growing body of literature has suggested that patients need their clinicians to provide culturally competent care. A focus on integrated and longitudinal training within the domains of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is needed to equip physicians to meet patients’ needs. Oncology is one such specialty that needs strong skillsets in EDI given its vulnerable and complex patient populations. This study explores how physicians within oncology learn about the domains of EDI through formal and informal learning. Methods: Using constructivist grounded theory (CGT), this study explores EDI competency formation at one academic center – the Juravinski Cancer Center in Hamilton ON, Canada. A purposive sample of 16 staff and resident physicians was taken to incorporate variation sampling - including a variety of ages, genders, and work/training experience. Participants were from both medical and radiation oncology. Semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted. Transcripts were generated, anonymized, and analyzed iteratively. Data analysis followed stages of open, axial, and selective coding through which themes were constructed. Interviews were continued until data saturation was reached. Results: Of the 16 participants, there was an even distribution between men (8) and women (8). Mean age was 43 (range 30-65). There were 5 residents and 11 faculty members. 9 were from medical oncology and 7 from radiation oncology. The major themes generated from the study were: the relationship between EDI competencies and professional identify formation, the role of culture and context in influencing exposure and learning about EDI, and the relationship between formal and informal learning opportunities. Conclusions: This study is the first to explore of how oncologists presently develop EDI competencies through formal and informal learning. The study has discovered the role of professional identify formation as a factor influencing learning, the impact of the culture and context of medicine, and the significant interplay between formal and informal learning in developing EDI skillsets. While much learning takes place informally, informed by clinical encounters and personal experiences, there is a need to marry the informal learning opportunities to more structured formal teaching in the training and clinical environment. [Table: see text]

Signs of front-line healthcare professionals' information anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic: Grounded theory study in a Wuhan hospital.

Being front-line healthcare professionals is associated with possible severe information anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Investigating signs of information anxiety is the first and key step of its targeted medical intervention. This study aims to explore the signs of front-line healthcare professionals' information anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is qualitative research. Grounded theory was used to classify information anxiety signs of front-line healthcare professionals. Twenty-four front-line healthcare professionals from a general hospital with over 5000 beds in Wuhan were recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews. According to the frequency and frequency variation of signs appearing in interviews, the trends of signs during the virus encounter, lockdown, flattening and second wave were compared. Based on the interviews, those signs that were conceptually related to each other were extracted to construct a conceptual model. Psychological signs (emotion, worry, doubt, caution, hope), physical signs (insomnia, inattention, memory loss, appetite decreased) and behavioural signs (panic buying of goods, be at a loss, pay attention to relevant information, change habits) could be generalized from 13 subcategories of information anxiety signs. Psychological signs were the most in every period of the pandemic. Furthermore, psychological signs decreased significantly during lockdown, while behavioural and physical signs increased. Finally, severe psychological and behavioural signs were associated with physical signs.

The all-female Goth band that never existed: Voces de Ultratumba

Feminist musicology has studied and questioned the dynamics of power, privilege and discrimination that have developed in the history of popular music due to gender. In line with these contributions, there is an intention of recovering the memory and value of the first Goth group formed entirely of women in Vigo (Galicia, Spain): Voces de Ultratumba. The quality of their music, performance, lyrics and activism is not referenced as it should be in the collective imagination, which is unaware of its existence. The documented record is very scarce since its formation in 1984, as opposed to the amount of information about mixed groups or male bands of that time. Thus, after digitizing newspaper articles and live material, data collection was also performed by biographical-narrative methodology of life history. Its three original members – Chus Taboada, Marisé Izquierdo and Eva Izquierdo – were interviewed and their discourse was analysed through grounded theory (GT). Historical press was also consulted. The details of this analysis are presented in this article. The results of it indicate that, despite the political, musical and social openness that Spain was going through after the death of the Dictator Francisco Franco on 20 November 1975, gender roles continued to operate even in the underground scene, where the political–musical experiences of dissident identities were left out of official Goth history.

“Collateral beauty.” Experiences and needs of professionals caring for parents continuing pregnancy after a life-limiting prenatal diagnosis: A grounded theory study

Background: Caring for parents continuing pregnancy after learning about a severe life-limiting condition in their unborn is challenging. Most existing studies focus on affected families, whereas research on the subjective experience of care professionals is scarce. Aim: We aimed to (1) explore experiences and needs of involved care professionals, (2) obtain information about existing care structures, and (3) identify requirements for a structured perinatal palliative care program. Design: Grounded Theory study using theoretical sampling. Data was collected by semi-structured interviews and analyzed following the principles of grounded theory coding and situational analysis. Setting: A total of 18 professionals from 12 different services in Munich and surroundings participated in the study: 8 physicians, 3 midwives, 2 nurses, 1 each pregnancy counselor, grief counselor, chaplain, clinical psychologist, and undertaker. Results: Several organizations provide support for affected parents, but inter-institutional communication is scarce. Due to the lack of a dedicated perinatal palliative care program, professionals make immense and partly unpaid efforts to support concerned parents. Providers experience “collateral beauty” in their work despite all the suffering and grief. This includes the development of a humble attitude and feelings of gratitude toward life, the feeling of having a meaningful task and professional as well as personal growth. Requirements for a structured perinatal palliative care program include: fostering peer support, ensuring regular supervision, and enhancing interdisciplinary exchange. Conclusions: Perinatal palliative care demands a high level of personal engagement but is experienced as highly rewarding by care professionals.

Pediatric chaplains iterative process to address religious & spiritual struggle: a qualitative study

The growing body of literature on religious and spiritual (R/S) struggles consistently highlights its association with various health outcomes in Pediatrics. Chaplains or spiritual care providers, as members of interdisciplinary teams, frequently offer spiritual care to patients and families grappling with R/S struggles. However, there is a paucity of literature demonstrating how chaplains address R/S struggle in their practice. This study aimed to construct a theory describing the process by which pediatric chaplains conceptualize and address it. Employing a constructivist Grounded Theory study design, we sought to comprehend the approaches pediatric chaplains utilize in addressing R/S struggles. Following a semi-structured interview guide, we interviewed twelve Board Certified or Board Certification-eligible chaplains. Findings reveal that chaplains use an iterative three-phase process to address R/S struggles. Thirteen categories emerged, which were further organized into four major themes: Assessing, Processing, Intervening, and Navigating Limitations. A model depicting this iterative process was constructed.

Embedding Public Involvement in a PhD Research Project With People Affected by Advanced Liver Disease.

Liver disease is an increasing cause of morbidity and mortality in the United Kingdom and can be challenging to live with in the advanced stages. There has been little research exploring the healthcare experiences of UK individuals with decompensated disease when the liver cannot carry out its functions properly. A PhD research project was developed with people who have liver disease to explore care experiences in decompensated advanced liver disease. Public involvement (PI) is an essential aspect of meaningful health research, and this paper reports on the progression of our PI approach in this ongoing study. To embed PI throughout the research project to ensure that the study is meaningful to individuals with liver disease and the people who support them. The research adopts a Constructivist Grounded Theory methodology to develop a theory of care experience. Various PI approaches were considered in developing the PI strategy for this qualitative study. Initially, Embedded consultation was the preferred model, which has evolved to include aspects of collaboration and coproduction. A PI group was set up to oversee the project through the national public engagement website VOICE, and reflections on PI from three members of the group are included in this paper to illuminate the PI process. Six individuals with liver disease and three carers from across the United Kingdom are part of an ongoing PI group. Their role includes commenting on the findings of the systematic literature review for this project and contributing to decisions about recruitment, data collection and data analysis. Additionally, they had a direct impact on changing the focus of the research. The PI group will continue involvement until the completion of the project. Successfully embedding PI into doctoral research, as demonstrated in this project, requires commitment, planning and dedication to reciprocal working for the benefit of PI contributors as well as the research. This approach could be adopted by other postgraduate researchers. This project is overseen by the PI group, whose contribution is described throughout, including reflections from three PI group members.

Body Neutral Parenting: A Grounded Theory of How to Help Cultivate Healthy Body Image in Children and Adolescents

Body Neutral Parenting: A Grounded Theory of How to Help Cultivate Healthy Body Image in Children and Adolescents

Effects of mother-infant skin-to-skin contact on mother-infant relationship and maternal psychology feelings: A qualitative study.

To explore the effects of mother-infant skin-to-skin contact on mother-infant relationship and maternal psychology feelings. An exploratory qualitative research design using semi-structured interviews. A total of 64 mother-infant pairs who met the inclusion criteria were selected as the experimental subjects to receive early and continuous intervention of mother-infant skin-to-skin contact (SSC). On this basis, the qualitative research method of procedural grounded theory was used to conduct semi-structured interviews with 18 puerperas before discharge from the hospital; the three-level coding method of procedural grounded theory and Graneheim & Lundman qualitative content analysis method were combined to conductinterview content analysis in Nvivo 12 software, so as to extractcore categories and condense the theme. (1) The data were coded to extract five core categories, namely, birth experience, role transition, contact perception, mother-infant connection and parental efficacy; (2) there were statistically significant differences in the number of coding reference points in five nodes before and after SSC, that is, mothers' positive feelings, newborns' physical characteristics noticed by their mothers, mother-infant connection, role transition and birth experience. The number of coding reference points after SSC was statistically significant greater than before SSC; (3) The coding interview results showed that SSC could promote the sense of happiness in nurturing.

Thriving Through Calamity: Healthcare Worker Commitment During a Public Health Crisis.

The study purpose was to generate theory to explain why some hospital staff chose to stay on the job during a prolonged public health crisis. The "great resignation" of 2021 created shortages across the healthcare industry. Why some healthcare staff chose to stay at work when coworkers were leaving in large numbers through retirement, transition to different careers, or perceived suddenly better clinical opportunities was not clear. Qualitative Grounded Theory methods guided this research study. Sixteen healthcare workers participated in open-ended interviews that provided data to identify major concepts in an emerging model of commitment during crisis. A "Commit to Stay" model emerged showing 4 major influences including sense of personal agency, supportive organization, social connections at work, and external connections and influence. The Commit to Stay conceptual model can help guide nurse leaders as they grapple with supporting those who choose to stay at work in healthcare during intense, sustained healthcare crises.

A Sustainable Approach to Teacher Professional Development on Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) Implementation

Abstract Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) is widely acknowledged as essential for educational achievement and fostering continuous learning skills (Taranto & Buchanan, 2020). As a result, there has been a marked escalation in embedding SRL criteria within academic curriculums, including primary education (De Smul et al., 2020; Heirweg et al., 2021). However, implementing SRL poses a significant challenge for educators, as it requires them to focus not just on delivering content but also on guiding students through the process of strategic learning. Teachers require specialised knowledge and expertise in effectively teaching SRL (De Smul et al.,2019). Understanding how to offer teachers support for effectively implementing SRL into classroom settings represents a vital area for future research (Dignath, 2021; Greene, 2021; Karlen et al., 2020). To this end, the current study investigated teachers’ understanding of acquiring professional expertise in implementing SRL within Grades 5 and 6 classrooms. The research was conducted in a Catholic primary school in Victoria, Australia, employing a comprehensive SRL approach to teaching and learning practices. To gather insights from the participants, unstructured interviews were conducted. The methodology of Classic Grounded Theory (Glaser & Strauss in 1967) was applied to identify, conceptualise, and examine the participating teachers’ perspectives. This study demonstrated the preference among teachers towards a multifaceted approach to SRL-focused professional development (PD) for enhancing critical aspects of teacher knowledge they deemed vital for SRL implementation. Furthermore, the findings emphasised the significance of teachers participating in training sessions to enhance their SRL content knowledge, team teaching opportunities centred on SRL pedagogical content knowledge and teacher coaching that emphasised teachers’ experiences with practising SRL. The research underscored professional expertise in SRL implementation as an incremental process of cultivating specific areas of professional knowledge that relied on diverse approaches to PD and required a sustained approach.

Maternal experiences of pregnant women affected by natural disasters: A modified grounded theory approach.

Pregnant women experience medical and psychological difficulties in their daily lives during disasters. Since the care provided to them in disaster situations is unclear, it is necessary to better understand their experiences. This study aims to identify the maternal experiences of pregnant women during natural disasters. This research employed a modified grounded theory approach. Twenty-three pregnant women, living in disaster-affected areas, were interviewed. The research methods were utilized and interpretive analysis was conducted, resulting in a diagram and storyline to describe the process. The characteristics of the maternal experiences fluctuated between "being unable to face pregnancy because of the disaster response" and "facing the fact of being pregnant." To maintain a fluctuation between their affected life and their pregnant life, it was necessary to control the weighting between "securing a safe and secure place," "encountering support based on pregnancy," and "signs from the fetus." Clarifying the maternal experiences of pregnant women living in disaster areas revealed a multilayered structure of categories and relationships. This study suggests that understanding the structure of fluctuations and control is critical for the nursing practice.

Exploring Patient–Clinician Trust During Pregnancy Care

OBJECTIVE: To explore patient experiences and perspectives regarding trust in clinicians during pregnancy care among Latine patients, focusing on those with Spanish as their preferred language. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative focus group study to explore trust in pregnancy care clinicians. Eligible participants self-identified as Hispanic/Latine, reported Spanish or English as their preferred language, were pregnant or had given birth in the previous year, and were at least 18 years old. Participants completed a brief demographic survey. We report descriptive statistics for survey responses. A semistructured discussion guide was developed from a literature review and feedback from a patient advisory panel. We report emerging themes using a modified grounded theory approach with an analysis of focus group transcripts. We mapped themes to the five dimensions of trust according to the Building Trust Initiative—communication, caring, comfort, cost, and competency—and barriers to trust. RESULTS: We conducted eight focus groups (five in Spanish, three in English) through Zoom between July and September 2023. Cost was not discussed in any of the focus groups. Rather, there was an emerging theme around acompañamiento (accompaniment is a distinct form of companionship in which there is shared power during a shared journey), particularly in the Spanish focus groups. Barriers to building trust exist at the interpersonal and health system levels, including miscommunication, lack of continuity, and brevity of appointments. CONCLUSION: This study explores how trust is conceptualized in pregnancy care according to the perspectives of Latine patients. We found that acompañamiento is a unique and crucial dimension of trust among Spanish-speaking patients.

Strategies employed by education managers in managing and resolving conflicts in the Bulawayo Metropolitan province schools, Zimbabwe

Conflict is an integral part of school management and its existence must not be shunned as it stimulates creative and innovative ways of thinking which enhance organisational growth and performance. The purpose of the study reported on here was to investigate how education managers executed Thomas and Kilmann’s model in managing and resolving conflicts in schools to avert chaos and anarchy with the ultimate intention of enhancing productivity. A constructivist, inductive grounded theory utilising a qualitative approach was employed. Qualitative data were generated using a semi-structured interview protocol from 4 information-rich education managers who were purposively selected. The inclusion criteria for the participants were age, experience, professional qualifications and the sample was determined by theoretical saturation. Data generated were thematically analysed. The study revealed that the conflict management and resolution model used by education managers in schools was contingent to their environment and perception. It also revealed that conflict was innovative and stimulated thought processes. As a result, schools must recruit education managers who are transformative, democratic and equipped with the appropriate strategies for managing and resolving conflict if teachers’ morale is to be boosted and productivity enhanced.

Digital competence among pre-service teachers: A global perspective on curriculum change as viewed by experts from 33 countries

In the intensely developing information society, the education of pre-service teachers presents an organisational, methodological, and conceptual challenge. Recent years have necessitated reflection on the content and modalities of the formation of digital competence in pre-service teachers. This article – considers which components the digital competences of the new generations of teachers should contain and how this area can be effectively developed within academic education. The article is the result of interviews conducted with 35 experts (recognized scholars in the field of media pedagogy) from North and South America, Africa, Australia and Oceania, Asia, and Europe. Qualitative interviews using the Delphi methodology were conducted between June and September 2022. Using grounded theory principles, it was noted that there is a need to modify pre-service teachers' curricula in the following areas: creating, retrieving and managing digital content; integrating ICT into subject content; developing soft skills; enhancing interactivity in the classroom; social aspects of ICT; distance learning; new socio-technical processes; advanced digital competencies; predictive learning; analysing the impact of ICT on human life; data protection; e-risks; low digital competencies; understanding media messaging; and supporting people with disabilities.

Invisible, Uncontrollable, Unpredictable: Illness Experiences in Women with Sjögren Syndrome.

Background/Objectives: Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) is a chronic degenerative rheumatic disease. Because of its chronic nature, it significantly affects the quality of life of those who suffer from it. Methods: This qualitative study investigated disease experience among women suffering from SS to understand its impact on their overall well-being. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 women who suffer from SS. Interviews were analyzed using the Grounded Theory methodology, using open, axial, and selective coding. Results: Three central phenomena of disease experience were identified: invisibility; uncontrollability; and unpredictability. Conclusions: SS disease experience has a strong imprint on emotional well-being and sense of self-control among middle-aged women. Understanding SS impacts on women's lives is important to better understand the disease and contribute to recognizing potential areas of management and social support in relevant windows of opportunity within the health-disease continuum.

How Do Child Protective Service (CPS) Policies Keep Employees Safe: ACaseworker’s Perspective

Child Protective Service (CPS) workers experience workplace violence at the hands of their clients. Some of these incidents have led to severe injuries and fatalities. Legislation has been created to maintain workplace safety of employees in service- related fields; however, these policies have not extended into specific laws for CPS workers. Using grounded theory, this qualitative study examined the effectiveness of safety measures from the perspective of current and former CPS workers. A total of 10 former and current CPS workers were interviewed individually. This study found that workers believe increased legislation, funding, and training are needed to increase the safety of CPS workers as they investigate alleged child abuse and neglect cases. Legislative-related responses included police protections, armed self-defense, and a mandatory buddy system policy. Funding-related responses included hazardous duty pay, resources for families, employing more staff, and mental health services for CPS workers. Training-related responses included increased training for police officers and CPS workers.

Mothers’ and Fathers’ Early Relationship With Their Infant: Similar Yet Temporally Discordant Themes

Objective: To examine first-time mothers' and fathers' themes in their relationship with their infant, how these themes change during the first four months postpartum, and similarities and differences in mothers' and fathers' themes.Participants: Eighteen first-time mother-father couples were separately interviewed at one; six and 16 weeks postpartum. Data Analysis: Audio-taped, transcribed interviews were analysed using a Grounded Theory approach.Results: Our findings reveal a common set of themes for mothers and fathers in relation to the infant : 1: Discovery,2: Physical Proximity, 3: Emotional Closeness, 4: Initiation of Complementary Interactions and 5: Commitment to Love and Care. However, there was a striking lack of concordance between mothers and fathers for these themes at each point in time.Conclusions: Mothers' and fathers' experience of the early relationship with their infant is unique. Focussing on maternal as well as paternal ways of experiencing the early relationship with their infant sets the way to understanding early developing relationships in the family context.

CONTINUITY OF CARER: WHAT DOES IT MEAN AND DOES IT MATTER TO MIDWIVES AND BIRTHING WOMEN?

This paper discusses key themes from a large-scale, long-term multi-perspective evaluation of caseload midwifery practice in the United Kingdom (UK). Caseload practice was introduced in several UK settings, on a pilot scale, following the publication of Changing Childbirth intended to put into practice its core principles of continuity, choice and control for women.1 A range of new midwifery practices were piloted and evaluated across the UK. Relatively little attention was given to defining and exploring the nature and meanings of the new models of practice, or to midwives in this new practice context. This has led to difficulty in comparing the impact of different models of practice. We draw on two aspects of our work – an ethnographic study of the experiences of midwives (with and without caseloads) and a study of the women's experiences and responses to care – to explore in greater depth the concepts involved in the caseload model and their meaning for women and for midwives in practice. Interviews were conducted with 40 women and 36 caseload midwives. Other forms of data collection, including questionnaires and observation were used and were analysed thematically using grounded theory principles. Themes emerging included autonomy, confidence, reciprocity and relationship: the idea of knowing and being known. On this basis we have argued that continuity is not an end in itself but an important means towards the end of women-centred care and should be considered in relation to other key themes such as autonomy and environment.