Grounded theory aims to...

Grounded theory aims to...

• A. Test a pre-existing theory
• B. Build theory inductively from data through iterative coding and constant comparison
• C. Describe a cultural setting
• D. Quantify relationships among variables

Answer: (B)

Grounded theory aims to develop theory that is built from the data itself, using inductive analysis. It follows an iterative process of coding data and continually comparing incidents, events, and concepts across interviews, observations, or documents. This constant comparison helps identify patterns and relationships, leading to the emergence of a theory that explains the process or phenomenon under study. The approach often involves theoretical sampling—collecting new data specifically to develop and refine the emerging theory—and gradual saturation, where additional data no longer reveal new concepts. This is different from: testing a pre-existing theory (which applies a deductive approach to see if data fit a theory), describing a cultural setting (which is more ethnography or descriptive study), or quantifying relationships among variables (which is the realm of quantitative research).

Grounded theory aims to develop theory that is built from the data itself, using inductive analysis. It follows an iterative process of coding data and continually comparing incidents, events, and concepts across interviews, observations, or documents. This constant comparison helps identify patterns and relationships, leading to the emergence of a theory that explains the process or phenomenon under study. The approach often involves theoretical sampling—collecting new data specifically to develop and refine the emerging theory—and gradual saturation, where additional data no longer reveal new concepts.

This is different from: testing a pre-existing theory (which applies a deductive approach to see if data fit a theory), describing a cultural setting (which is more ethnography or descriptive study), or quantifying relationships among variables (which is the realm of quantitative research).