Nurse Researcher Applying a contemporary grounded theory methodology Cite this article as: Licqurish S, Seibold C (2011) Applying a contemporary grounded theory methodology. Nurse Researcher. 18, 4, 11-16. Received December 9 2009; accepted December 12 2010 Correspondence to Abstract Sharon Licqurish Email: sharon.licqurish@acu. Aim The aim of this paper is to discuss the application focused on social action and interaction and the edu.au of a contemporary grounded theory methodology to a operation of power in the students’ environment. The Sharon Licqurish RN, RM, BNurs research project exploring the experiences of students social process in which the students were involved, Grad Dip Mid, PhD candidate studying for a degree in midwifery. as well as the actors and discourses that affected the is a lecturer in midwifery at the school of nursing and midwifery, students’ competency development, were highlighted. Background Grounded theory is a qualitative research Carmel Seibold RN, RM, Dip approach developed by Glaser and Strauss in the Conclusion The methodology allowed a thorough Ned, BA, MAppSc, PhD is professor and dean of graduate 1950s but the methodology for this study was exploration of the students’ experiences of achieving studies modelled on Clarke’s (2005) approach and was competency. However, some difficulties were underpinned by a symbolic interactionist theoretical encountered. One of the major issues related to the Both at the Australian Catholic University, Victoria perspective, post-structuralist theories of Michel understanding and application of complex sociological Foucault and a constructionist epistemology. theories that challenged positivist notions of truth and power. Furthermore, the mapping processes were Review methods The study participants were complex. Despite these minor challenges, the authors 19 midwifery students completing their final placement. recommend applying this methodology to other similar Data were collected through individual in-depth research projects. interviews and participant observation, and analysed using the grounded theory analysis techniques of Keywords coding, constant comparative analysis and theoretical Grounded theory, post-structuralism, situational sampling, as well as situational maps. The analysis analysis, symbolic interactionism Introduction researchers alike. To overcome this confusion, he ThiS article discusses the application of a identified four elements to a research process that contemporary grounded theory methodology to need to be understood, then articulated and justified. a research project exploring the experiences of he provided these definitions of the four elements: students studying for midwifery degrees in achieving ‘methods’ are the procedures used to gather and competency. The methodology is modelled on analyse data; ‘methodology’ is the overall strategy Clarke’s (2005) approach to grounded theory. or research process; ‘theoretical perspective’ is the The framework of this paper is based on the philosophical stance informing the methodology; and selection, exploration and implementation of the ‘epistemology’ is ‘the theory of knowledge embedded chosen methodology. To describe and defend the in the theoretical perspective’ or ‘an attempt to methodology, a comprehensive exploration of explain how we know what we know’. the theoretical and epistemological underpinnings is necessary. Constructionism as epistemology As noted by Crotty (1998), confusion about Constructionism can underpin a number of research methodology, theoretical perspectives and qualitative research approaches and unlike the epistemology is common for seasoned and fledgling post-positivist epistemologies that inform most © RCN PublishiNg / NuRsE REsEARChER July 2011 | Volume 18 | Number 4 11 Nurse Researcher Grounded theory quantitative research approaches, presumes that theoretical perspective underpinning their approach people construct their world and make sense of to grounded theory. experiences during interactions in it (Crotty 1998, Symbolic interactionism is a theoretical Charmaz 2006). Meaning is constructed when an perspective relevant to qualitative research that individual engages with the world, so truth is relative focuses on human experience. According to Blumer and meaning flexible. Truth and meaning are subject (1969), symbolic interactionism is a theory of ‘human to change and tested in social experiences (Crotty group life and human conduct’. The focus is on 1998, Schwandt 2000, Charmaz 2006). the social aspects of human action and interaction, Constructionism assumes that people are born meaning, and interpretation of meaning: ‘human into cultures that have already constructed meaning beings act towards things on the basis of the about their objects and symbols. These meanings are meaning that things have for them; the meanings of imparted as people interact (Crotty 1998, Schwandt such things is derived from or arises out of social 2000). individuals’ understanding of meaning is, interactions with one’s fellows; the meanings are therefore, shaped by sociocultural influences that handled in, and modified through, an interpretative manipulate their behaviours, experiences and process used by the person in dealing with the thinking (Crotty 1998). Constructionism fits with things he encounters’ (Blumer 1969). grounded theory methodology, which aims to Blumer (1969) identified two forms of social understand human experience. interactions – the ‘conversation of gestures’ and the ‘use of significant symbols’. Mead later termed Grounded theory as methodology them ‘non-symbolic interactions’ and ‘symbolic The grounded theory method of qualitative research interactions’ (Blumer 1969). was developed by Glaser and Strauss (1967). it is Symbolic interactionists presume that mostly inductive, which means the researcher does someone’s sense of meaning is interpreted through not begin with a hypothesis about the phenomenon social interactions, and the communication and to be studied but instead remains open to whatever understanding of verbal and non-verbal sociocultural theory emerges from the data (Glaser and Strauss symbols. Language is an example of a sociocultural 1967, Strauss and Corbin 1990). To remain true to symbol in today’s society (Charon 2001). Analysis of the inductive nature of the design, grounded theory language is also a significant feature of post-structural has specific characteristics of project design, data theory, which is another of the theoretical collection and analysis, which will be explained later. perspectives underpinning the methodology. The theoretical underpinnings of grounded While there is considerable debate as to what theory – if grounded theory method is informed by constitutes post-structural theory, Michel Foucault’s a specific theoretical perspective and if researchers’ later work has been described as post-structural theoretical perspectives should be identified before and contributing to post-modernism (Bordo 1993). they start collecting data – have been debated. Glaser Post-modernism can be said to be informed by a and Strauss’s (1967) description of the methodology number of social theorists – as well as Foucault suggested they originally intended grounded theory – and yet it is possible to identify a number of to be theoretically flexible. however, Strauss’s unifying themes. Post-modernism rejects grand later grounded theory methodology was informed theories of the enlightenment period considered by symbolic interactionism (Strauss and Corbin central to theories of modernism. Post-modernism 1990). This is particularly evident in Strauss’s later therefore throws into doubt objective and rational collaborations with Corbin, which suggested some concepts of knowledge and truth, questions the differences from the original Glaser and Strauss enlightenment view of the person as rational, centred (1967) methodology, symbolic interactionism and purposive, and views subjectivity or identity as a implicitly being the theoretical perspective (Strauss discursive construction (Barrett 1992, Bordo 1993). and Corbin 1990). The post-structuralist and post-modernist Glaser (2007) later criticised Strauss’s and movements are rooted in beliefs about the plurality Corbin’s approaches. he argued that applying a of meaning and the subjectivity of interpretation. preconceived theoretical framework to a grounded The post-structuralist theorist on whom Clarke theory project is contrary to the inductive nature of (2005) particularly drew is Foucault. Foucault’s work the process. he maintained grounded theory in its consisted of an early ‘archaeological’ phase, in which original form did not have a particular theoretical he developed his theory of discourse, and his later perspective. however, some contemporary grounded ‘genealogical’ phase, in which he developed a theory theorists, such as Clarke (2005) and Charmaz of power and knowledge, with some overlap between (2006), identified symbolic interactionism as the the two phases (Phillips and Jørgensen 2002). 12 July 2011 | Volume 18 | Number 4 © RCN PUBLISHINg / NuRsE REsEARChER Nurse Researcher Grounded theory Clarke (2005), drawing on Foucault, described Midwives exercise power as they adapt to discourse as ‘communication of any kind around/ about/on a particularly socially or culturally work in the maternity care system and it recognizable theme – contemporary and/or historical. Discourse includes “word choice, arguments, can be assumed that students will follow suit warrants, claims, motives, and