Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Objective
Grounded theory (GT) is an established qualitative research method, but few papers have encapsulated the benefits, limits, and basic tenets of doing GT research on user and provider experiences of health care services. GT can be used to guide the entire study method, or it can be applied at the data analysis stage only.Methods
We summarize key components of GT and common GT procedures used by qualitative researchers in health care research. We draw on our experience of conducting a GT study on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients' experiences of health care services.Findings
We discuss why some approaches in GT research may work better than others, particularly when the focus of study is hard-to-reach population groups. We highlight the flexibility of procedures in GT to build theory about how people engage with health care services.Conclusion
GT enables researchers to capture and understand health care experiences. GT methods are particularly valuable when the topic of interest has not previously been studied. GT can be applied to bring structure and rigor to the analysis of qualitative data.
SUBMITTER: Foley G
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4545354 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Foley Geraldine G Timonen Virpi V
Health services research 20141218 4
<h4>Objective</h4>Grounded theory (GT) is an established qualitative research method, but few papers have encapsulated the benefits, limits, and basic tenets of doing GT research on user and provider experiences of health care services. GT can be used to guide the entire study method, or it can be applied at the data analysis stage only.<h4>Methods</h4>We summarize key components of GT and common GT procedures used by qualitative researchers in health care research. We draw on our experience of ...[more]