Grounded Theory and Sensitizing Concepts

Grounded theory is a qualitative research approach that uses inductive analysis as a principal technique. Yet, researchers who embrace this approach often use sensitizing concepts to guide their analysis. In this article, the author examines the relationship between sensitizing concepts and grounded theory. Furthermore, he illustrates the application of sensitizing concepts in a study of community-based antipoverty projects in Jamaica. The article contains commentary about trustworthiness techniques, the coding process, and the constant comparative method of analysis, as well as a synopsis of study findings.

[1]  H. Blumer.  What Is Wrong with Social Theory , 1954 .

[2]  A. Strauss,et al.  The discovery of grounded theory: strategies for qualitative research aldine de gruyter , 1968 .

[3]  H. Wollmann.  „Citizen Participation“ in USA , 1973 .

[4]  B. Glaser.  Theoretical Sensitivity: Advances in the Methodology of Grounded Theory , 1978 .

[5]  M. Patton.  Qualitative research and evaluation methods , 1980 .

[6]  M. Patton,et al.  Qualitative evaluation methods , 1981 .

[7]  E. Guba,et al.  Lincoln, Yvonna, and Egon Guba, "Postpositivism and the Naturalist Paradigm," pp. 14-46 in Yvonna Lincoln and Egon Guba, Naturalistic Inquiry . Beverly Hills, CA: Sage, 1985.* , 1985 .

[8]  E. Guba,et al.  Naturalistic inquiry: Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, 1985, 416 pp., $25.00 (Cloth) , 1985 .

[9]  J. Coleman,et al.  Social Capital in the Creation of Human Capital , 1988, American Journal of Sociology.

[10]  A. Strauss,et al.  Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques. , 1993 .

[11]  Cheryl Tatano Beck.  Teetering on the Edge: A Substantive Theory Of Postpartum Depression , 1993, Nursing research.

[12]  N. Denzin,et al.  Handbook of Qualitative Research , 1994 .

[13]  Thomas A. Schwandt.  Constructivist, interpretivist approaches to human inquiry. , 1994 .

[14]  Carl E. Larson,et al.  Collaborative Leadership: How Citizens and Civic Leaders Can Make a Difference , 1994 .

[15]  J. Morse,et al.  Qualitative Research Methods for Health Professionals , 1995 .

[16]  C. Moser.  Urban poverty and violence in Jamaica , 1996 .

[17]  Will C. van den Hoonaard,et al.  Working with Sensitizing Concepts: Analytical Field Research , 1996 .

[18]  M. Zimmerman.  Empowerment theory: Psychological, organizational, and community levels of analysis. , 2000 .

[19]  Edward Seidman,et al.  Handbook of community psychology , 2000 .

[20]  D. Naraya.  Voices of the poor : can anyone hear us ? , 2000 .

[21]  Norman W. H. Blaikie,et al.  Designing Social Research: The Logic of Anticipation , 2000 .

[22]  B. Reeder,et al.  Capacity for Community Development: An Approach to Conceptualization and Measurement , 2001 .

[23]  M. Knobf,et al.  Carrying On: The Experience of Premature Menopause in Women With Early Stage Breast Cancer , 2002, Nursing research.

[24]  C. Seibold.  The place of theory and the development of a theoretical framework in a qualitative study , 2002 .

[25]  Social Funds: Assessing Effectiveness , 2002 .

[26]  Scott C. Brown,et al.  Exploring Complex Phenomena: Grounded Theory in Student Affairs Research , 2002 .

[27]  Glenn A. Bowen.  Social funds as a strategy for poverty reduction in Jamaica : an exploratory study , 2003 .

[28]  J. Macintosh,et al.  Reworking Professional Nursing Identity , 2003, Western journal of nursing research.

[29]  M. Domahidy.  Using Theory to Frame Community and Practice , 2003 .

[30]  Colin Sharp.  Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods (3rd ed.) , 2003 .

[31]  Deborah K. Padgett,et al.  The qualitative research experience , 2004 .

[32]  D. Padgett.  Coming of age: Theoretical thinking, social responsibility and a global perspective in qualitative research , 2004 .

[33]  L. Marcellus.  The grounded theory method and maternal-infant research and practice. , 2005, Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN.

[34]  Glenn A. Bowen.  Local-Level Stakeholder Collaboration: A Substantive Theory of Community-Driven Development , 2005 .

[35]  Alvita Nathaniel.  Moral Reckoning in Nursing , 2006, Western journal of nursing research.