Grounded theory

Giorgos Tsiolis

Chapter 15 in Elgar Concise Encyclopedia of Research Methods in the Social Sciences, 2026, pp 106-113 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Grounded theory (GT) is a widely known qualitative research methodology, originally developed by sociologists Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss in the 1960s. It is designed to generate theories that are progressively developed throughout empirical research, through the continuous interplay between data collection and analysis. GT was groundbreaking because it challenged two prevailing assumptions: first, that research could only serve to test pre-existing theories; and second, that qualitative research was limited to descriptive (idiographic) studies with no potential for theorization or abstraction. GT has gained lasting popularity for providing qualitative researchers with systematic procedures and principles for all stages of an investigation. It emphasizes a flexible research design, theoretical sampling (choosing cases that contribute to theory development), and a multilevel coding process, which transforms raw data into conceptual categories and frameworks. Despite its foundational status, GT remains a dynamic and evolving field, enriched by ongoing debates and methodological refinements.

Keywords: Qualitative Research; Induction; Abduction; Theoretical Sampling; Coding; Substantive And Formal Theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781803921297
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