The Future of Grounded Theory

• Main Author: Barney G. Glaser, Ph.D., Hon. Ph.D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociology Press 2010-06-01
• Series: Grounded Theory Review: An International Journal
• Subjects: grounded theory; classic grounded theory; methodology
• Online Access: http://groundedtheoryreview.com/2010/06/30/the-future-of-grounded-theory1/

I would like to speak about what I consider the future of grounded theory. I will discuss in whose hands the future of grounded theory appears to be and what accounts for its spread, its use and misuse, and where the majority of grounded theory studies are occurring. I will then briefly review poor grounded theory, qualitative grounded theory, social fictions, and theory bits. Finally, I will touch on the future structures in which grounded theory will be taught and centered.First, a few guidelines are necessary. Grounded theory refers to a specific methodology on how to get from systematically collecting data to producing a multivariate conceptual theory. It is a total methodological package. It provides a series of systematic, exact methods that start with collecting data and take the researcher to a theoretical piece that is publishable.