Blog

The theory analysis process involves analyzing the concepts that are generated from your data. It’s an ongoing process that requires flexibility because it’s difficult to why not look here determine the amount of information you’ll need to collect in advance. Researchers who employ grounded theory (GT) constantly study and collect new data until they are theoretically saturated, or the point where new data does not contribute to their developing theory.

The first step in GT is to identify themes that repeat after an exhaustive examination of the data. These themes are classified and coded using relationship identification. This is the foundation of GT analysis. It is known as open-coding. After open coding, scientists make connections between concepts, or develop substantive codes, through a process of memoing and constant comparison. This allows for the integration of concepts by linking them up in hypotheses. Concepts are then integrated into these hypotheses using an axial code.

Once the researcher has identified a primary variable, or a tentative core, they selectively sample new data with this variable in mind, or perform theoretical sampling. This method defines the scope of their study and helps them focus their analysis on only the elements that are most relevant to their inquiry.

A theory is useful not just in the area of research but also as a tool to make sense of your data and compare and contrast different aspects. This is a crucial part of GT analysis and is the reason it is essential to include it in your methodology section, along with your coding techniques and development of conceptual categories.