Discussion question responses and analysis

¶ … Theory Checklist" as a guide.

Analyze at least one assumption in your assigned article.

Assessment of Article B

According to Ralph De LaRossa's article "Grounded theory methods and qualitative family research," the use of grounded theory in the social science of family research is particularly valuable. Unlike other forms of qualitative research that merely describe a particular phenomenon or chronicle a 'case study' of a relatively obscure group of people, grounded theory does purport to create some useful and generalizable theory. Qualitative research is distinct from quantitative research, given that the latter tests a hypothesis and is based upon deductive principles. Qualitative research is inductive -- it collects data and formulates a theory from the accumulated information. After assessing verbal data, when using a grounded theory approach, the researcher then codes the data to come to a conclusion based upon the information.

The article details the core principles and the history of grounded theory. To some extent, grounded theory forms a bridge between the principles of qualitative and quantitative methodologies, because through coding, responses can be analyzed in a somewhat objective format. Rather than purely inductive, grounded theory has been called a blend of "induction, deduction, and verification" (LaRosa 2005: 853). However, it does not strictly deploy the scientific method and the information which it accumulates is based upon interview responses. There is considerable leeway in terms of how coding is conducted, although there are certain generally-agreed upon principles. The tests of statistical rigor are not comparable to quantitative analyses. Open, axial, and selective coding can all be deployed at the discretion of the researcher.

The coding process has caused some qualitative theorists to criticize grounded theory as insufficiently taking advantage of the positive aspects of qualitative methodologies. "Data are never pure; they are ripe with meanings and always the products of prior interpretive and conceptual decisions. Grounded theory slights the processes whereby data are assembled, processes that build concepts into the data from the start in the very process of writing field notes" (LaRossa 2005: 854). Theory only seems to 'leap' from the page because of preexisting notions of the researcher even though no experience 'naturally' gives rise to a theory in the absence of guiding research intelligence. However, LaRossa argues that, far from an imposition on experience, certain common phrases often do arise as a result of the research process, such as one study of parents in which the parent's resentment of being "on duty" and "on call" for their children and having to deal with so many activities was a reoccurring theme (LaRossa 2005: 854). There may be research bias, but provided the analysis is grounded in the data, this is no more of a problem than in quantitative research.

Reference

LaRossa, R. (2005). Grounded theory methods and qualitative family research. Journal of Marriage and Family,837-857.