Classic Grounded Theory

Judith Holton completed her Masters in Leadership at Royal Roads University, Victoria (Canada) and her PhD in Management Studies at the University of Northampton (UK).  During her PhD research, she was closely mentored by Barney Glaser.  She has written a number of methodological papers and books about classic grounded theory and was the founding editor of The Grounded Theory Review as a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to classic grounded theory research.  She is currently Associate Professor of Management in the Ron Joyce Centre for Business Studies at Mount Allison University, Sackville (Canada) where she teaches strategy, leadership and organizational change. Isabelle Walsh defended her PhD and HDR (Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches: Habilitation to supervise research) in Paris-Dauphine University (France). Beside methodological and research design issues, her research themes include Information Systems Usage, Cultural Issues and Change Management. Her research has been published in several international top tier outlets (European Journal of Information Systems, Journal of Strategic Information Systems, Organizational Research Methods , Systèmes d’Information & Management, etc.). Beyond her research achievements, she has extensive corporate and consultancy experience and is currently full Professor at SKEMA Business School in France and Head of the Project Management, Information Systems and Supply Chain department; her teaching is aligned with her research themes.

Classic Grounded Theory does a superlative job of clarifying and extending the works of Barney Glaser and the classical school of grounded theory in a way useful to both scholars and practitioners interested in applying this approach to the study of social behavior.

• An Overview of Classic Grounded Theory1. Situating Grounded Theory on the Research LandscapeThe Early Development of Grounded TheoryAre Glaserian and Straussian GT Reconcilable?The Nature and Power of Classic GTEmergence of the Classic GT ParadigmIn SummaryTest Your KnowledgeFurther Reading2. Discovering New Theory as the End Purpose of Classic Grounded TheoryWhat Is a Theory?The Drive From Substantive to Formal GTTheorizing in Rupture With Existing LiteratureIn SummaryTest Your KnowledgeFurther Reading3. Foundational Pillars of Classic Grounded TheoryEmergenceConstant Comparative AnalysisTheoretical SamplingDeveloping Your Stance as a Grounded TheoristIn SummaryTest Your KnowledgeFurther Reading4. Clarifying Common Sources of Confusion in Grounded TheoryEmergence Versus PreconceptionDescription Versus ConceptualizationSubstantive Versus Theoretical CodingIn SummaryTest Your KnowledgeFurther ReadingClassic Grounded Theory in Practice5. Finding Your DataWhy "All Is Data"Overlooked Sources of Available DataCollecting Your Own DataData Collection and Analysis as an Iterative ProcessIn SummaryTest Your KnowledgeFurther Reading6. Analyzing Your DataConceptual Analysis as Distinct From Descriptive AnalysisUsing Constant Comparative AnalysisTypes and Stages of Coding in Grounded TheoryCore Category EmergenceThe Key Role of Analytic Memoing in GT AnalysisThe Iterative Nature of Data Analysis in Grounded TheoryTo Software or Not to SoftwareIn SummaryTest Your KnowledgeFurther Reading7. Shaping the TheoryTheoretical SamplingTheoretical SaturationTheoretical CodingIn SummaryTest Your KnowledgeFurther ReadingWriting and Evaluating Classic Grounded Theory8. Writing as an Important Part of Doing Classic GTThe Process Leading to the Readiness to Write MomentApproaching the Literature in a GT StudyWriting GT With Mixed Quantitative and Qualitative DataThe First DraftWriting BlocksIn SummaryTest Your KnowledgeTest Your KnowledgeFurther Reading9. Writing Classic GT for PublicationDoing Versus WritingWriting Classic GT Using Mixed DataWriting ConventionsSome Guidelines for Publishing Classic GT in Top Tier ResearchIn SummaryTest Your KnowledgeFurther Reading10. Evaluating Classic Grounded TheoryThe Consequences of the Paradigm WarCriteria for Evaluating Grounded TheoryIn SummaryTest Your KnowledgeFurther ReadingConclusionAppendix A: Doing Qualitative Research Does Not Mean You Are Doing Classic GTAppendix B: Classic GT Using Qualitative DataAppendix C: Doing Classic GT Using Mixed Qualitative and Quantitative DataAppendix D: Some Examples of Theoretical Coding Using Mixed Qualitative and Quantitative DataAppendix E: Examples of Diagrams as Precursors of a Theory