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Rigor in Grounded Theory Research: An Interpretive Perspective on Generating Theory from Qualitative Field Studies
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Rigor in Grounded Theory Research: An Interpretive Perspective on Generating Theory from Qualitative Field Studies

Susan Gasson
The Handbook of Information Systems Research
01 Jul 2003
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Rigor in Grounded Theory - Perspectives on Generating Theory Through Field Studies372.31 kBDownloadView
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Abstract

Computer Science and Information Technology IT Research & Theory IT Research and Theory
This chapter presents a set of principles for the use of Grounded Theory techniques in qualitative field studies. Some issues and controversies relating to rigor in Grounded Theory generation are discussed. These include: inductive theory generation and emergence, how theoretical saturation may be judged, the extent to which coding schemes should be formalized, the objectivist-subjectivist debate, and the assessment of quality and rigor in interpretive research. It is argued that Grounded Theory is often criticized for a lack of rigor because we apply positivist evaluations of rigor to research that derives from an interpretive worldview. Alternative assessments of rigor are suggested, that emphasize reflexivity in the inductive-deductive cycle of substantive theory generation.

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