Essentials of Critical-Constructivist Grounded Theory Research

by Heidi M Levitt

Overview

This book provides a step-by-step description of how to use critical-constructivist grounded theory (CCGT) methods.

This flexible approach can aid researchers in investigating topics within psychological, interpersonal, and sociocultural contexts. It leads readers to reflexively examine their research process, incorporate critical and constructivist procedures, and produce rich, multi-layered findings that demonstrate methodological integrity. The author guides researchers so that their own research goals shape the application of CCGT methods and their specific inquiry is strengthened. 

The brief, practical texts in the Essentials of Qualitative Methods series introduce social science and psychology researchers to key approaches to capturing phenomena not easily measured quantitatively, offering exciting, nimble opportunities to gather in-depth qualitative data.

About the Essentials of Qualitative Methods book series: Even for experienced researchers, selecting and correctly applying the right method can be challenging. In this groundbreaking series, leading experts in qualitative methods provide clear, crisp, and comprehensive descriptions of their approach, including its methodological integrity, and its benefits and limitations. Each book includes numerous examples to enable readers to quickly and thoroughly grasp how to leverage these valuable methods.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433834523
Publisher:	American Psychological Association
Publication date:	01/12/2021
Series:	Essentials of Qualitative Methods Series
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Heidi M. Levitt, PhD, is a professor in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She is a past president of the Society for Qualitative Inquiry in Psychology (SQIP), a section of Division 5 (Quantitative and Qualitative Methods) of the American Psychological Association (APA). In addition, she has been an associate editor for the journals Psychotherapy Research and Qualitative Psychology. She chaired the development of the SQIP recommendations for reviewing and designing qualitative research (Levitt et al., 2017) and chaired the development of the inaugural APA journal article reporting standards (JARS) for qualitative, qualitative meta-analytic, and mixed methods research.

 

Table of Contents

Series Foreword Clara E. Hill Sarah Knox vii

1 Conceptual Foundations of Critical-Constructivist Grounded Theory 3

What is Grounded Theory? 5

Grounded Theory as Situated in Qualitative Research 7

Epistemological Perspectives 9

Critical-Constructivist Grounded Theory 13

Key Procedures in Grounded Theory Method 14

2 Designing the Study 17

Appropriate Research Goals for a Critical-Constructivist Grounded Theory Method 17

Contraindicated Questions 20

Research Team Considerations 22

Research Using Interview and Written or Archival Data 23

Memoing 24

3 Establishing Methodological Integrity 27

Fidelity in Critical-Constructivist Grounded Theory Methods 28

Utility in Grounded Theory Methods 32

4 Collecting the Data 37

Selecting and Recruiting Participants 37

Developing an Interview Protocol and Interviewing 39

Researcher-Participant Alliance: Who Should Ask What and How to Establish Rapport 46

Research Ethics 47

5 Analyzing the Data and Producing Results 51

Creating Meaning Units and Labeling Them 51

Constant Comparison and the Creation of Initial Categories 59

Inferential Processes Underlying the Creation of the Hierarchy 68

Incorporating a Critical-Constructivist Lens in Categorization 68

The Process of Hierarchy Review 71

Methodological Integrity Checks 71

Example of Using a Word Processor to Conduct Analysis 77

Aggregating Grounded Theory Studies: Grounded Theory Meta-Analysis 78

6 Writing a Manuscript 79

Introduction 80

Method 80

Results 82

Discussion 85

7 Summary and Conclusions 87

Benefits and Advantages of Critical-Constructivist Grounded Theory 88

Limitations and Weaknesses of Critical-Constructivist Grounded Theory 88

Developing a Thesis or Dissertation Timeline 89

Final Thoughts 92

Appendix: Exemplar Studies 93

References 95

Index 105

About the Author 109

About the Series Editors 111

What People are Saying About This

Jeanne Marecek

Heidi Levitt gives readers an engaging and detailed account of a critical-constructivist approach to grounded theory research. In lucid prose laced with fascinating snippets of her own research, she leads us through the steps of formulating research questions, gathering rich talk, finding patterns of meanings in that talk, and compiling research reports. Throughout, we learn the “why’s” as well as the “how’s” behind the investigative practices she describes.