Grounded Theory Method and Symbolic Interactionism: Freedom of Conceptualization and the Importance of Context in Research
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Date
2022-09-30
Open Access Location
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Institut für Qualitative Forschung, Internationale Akademie Berlin gGmbH
Rights
CC BY 4.0
Abstract
Symbolic interactionism (SI), a perspective used to understand human conduct, is commonly said to underpin grounded theory methodology (GTM). However, the purpose of GTM is to produce substantive explanatory social theory from data without reliance on prior assumptions. Therefore, some argue that SI is an unnecessary theoretical constraint on the principal aim of GTM —the free conceptualization of data. In this article we use examples from an ongoing constructionist grounded theory study into the negotiation of nurses' roles in general practice in New Zealand, to demonstrate how SI can inform GTM regarding conceptual development and context. We argue that by asking three questions from a symbolic interactionist perspective, at each stage of the research process, freedom of conceptualization may be enhanced and awareness of contextual matters promoted to better bridge world views.
Description
Copyright (c) 2022 Sarah Louise Hewitt, Jane Mills, Karen Hoare, Nicolette Sheridan
Keywords
grounded theory methodology, symbolic interactionism, qualitative research, conceptualization, context, culture, pragmatism
Citation
Forum, qualitative social research / Forum, Qualitative Sozialforschung, 2022, 23 (3), pp. ? - ? (20)