Advantages and Disadvantages of Grounded theory?

Answer 1

Three best major advantages of Grounded Theory are:

1) There are crystal-clear instructions for doing the data collection and as well data analysis that both are extremly important in any research and regardless of what research approach/methodology is used

2) In contrast to all other qualitative social research approaches/methodologies that are laid on "descriptical level", Grounded Theory says (Glaser) to stand on "conceptual level"

3) All data must be grounded which makes the whole research to be rigorous, relaiable...and valid

The main disadvantages are:

1) It's time consuming

2) There is a delayed what Glaser calls "learning curve" which means it takes ca one year until the researcher learns who to use Grounded Theory in practic

3) The researcher is limited to the concepts of respondents who might produce bais etc

4) There are three major strands of this theory (Glaser, Straus and Charmaz). So partially not being aware of the existance of those three strands, and partially not knowing which one to use are two big intertwined challenges

Sent by: Said Morad Babaheidari

University West, Sweden