Synopses & Reviews
This volume is directed toward closing the gap between theory and empirical research and improving social scientists' capacities for generating theory that is relevant and useful to their research.Most writing on sociological method has been concerned with how accurate facts can be obtained and how theory can thereby be more rigorously tested. In this book we address ourselves to the equally important enterprise, of how the discovery of theory from data-systematically obtained and analyzed in social research--can be furthered. We believe that the discovery of theory from data--which we call grounded theory--is a major task confronting sociology today, for, as we shall show, such a theory fits empirical situations, and is understandable to sociologist and layman alike. Most important, it works--provides us with relevant predictions, explanations, interpretations and applications.... And so, we offer this book, which we conceive as a beginning venture in the development of improved methods for discovering grounded theory.From the introduction to The Discovery of Grounded TheoryAuthors: Barney G. Glaser, Anselm L. Strauss
Synopsis
Most writing on sociological method has been concerned with how accurate facts can be obtained and how theory can thereby be more rigorously tested. In The Discovery of Grounded Theory, Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss address the equally Important enterprise of how the discovery of theory from data--systematically obtained and analyzed in social research--can be furthered. The discovery of theory from data--grounded theory--is a major task confronting sociology, for such a theory fits empirical situations, and is understandable to sociologists and laymen alike. Most important, it provides relevant predictions, explanations, interpretations, and applications.
In Part I of the book, -Generation Theory by Comparative Analysis, - the authors present a strategy whereby sociologists can facilitate the discovery of grounded theory, both substantive and formal. This strategy involves the systematic choice and study of several comparison groups. In Part II, The Flexible Use of Data, - the generation of theory from qualitative, especially documentary, and quantitative data Is considered. In Part III, -Implications of Grounded Theory, - Glaser and Strauss examine the credibility of grounded theory.
The Discovery of Grounded Theory is directed toward improving social scientists' capacity for generating theory that will be relevant to their research. While aimed primarily at sociologists, it will be useful to anyone Interested In studying social phenomena--political, educational, economic, industrial-- especially If their studies are based on qualitative data.