Grounded Theory (again)

Interesting text by Cutcliffe, J.R. "Methodological issues in grounded theory":

- He proposes a combination of the methods proposed - separately - by Glaser and Strauss. He says that any attempt of a purist approach to the method can only constrain the gathering of data.

- However, he advocates the strict definition and execution of the methodology once it is chosen. Not being able to describe the method used for the gathering/analysis of data is, according to him, one of the greatest weaknesses of grounded theorists.

- He is in favour of pre-field revision of literature and use of researcher's background knowledge -- for what Glaser's must be turning in his thumb. Fair point: if the researcher doesn't know what has been written about the matter of investigation, how can he possibly know what to look at. Some minimal direction must be taken.

- Understandably so, Cutcliffe doesn't seem to think that researchers should choose their informants before the observations take place. But he does think that an activity that can -- and should -- take place before the observation period starts is the definition of criteria to choose the informants. What should informants have or be to be good informants for this specific research? Generally, informants are people who have content knowledge about the phenomenon being studied and who are willing to talk. However, each field and each research questions turns itself to one -- or more -- people in the field, and these are the informants for this specific study. POINT TO THINK ABOUT.

- Insists in the importance of doing theoretical coding as well as substantial coding. According to him, substantial coding are called this because they codify the substance of the data and often use the very words used by the actors themselves. I think I am on the right way for this one. What about theoretical coding? Is it categorizing?

This article was published on the Journal of Advanced Nursing, in 2000. Funny eh?