Comparisons of Adaptations in Grounded Theory and Phenomenology: Selecting the Specific Qualitative Research Methodology

Abstract

The most widely used qualitative research methodologies are grounded theory and phenomenology. Both methodologies have expanded over time to several adaptations aligning with different paradigms, complex philosophical assumptions, and varying methodological strategies. Novice researchers either mistakenly mix the strategies of both methodologies or blend specific assumptions of methodologies’ different adaptations. Choosing the appropriate methodology and the specific adaptation in line with research inquiry and congruent with the researchers’ worldview is crucial in undertaking rigorous qualitative study. To date, there is limited literature that compared and contrasted the varying philosophical underpinnings of the two methodologies’ different adaptations. The purpose of this methodological paper is to provide a general overview of the two methodologies’ different adaptations to illustrate how they differ in approach. By immersing into the origins, philosophical assumptions, and utility of the two methodologies’ adaptations, novice researchers will develop a general overview of the foundations that support those specific adaptations. Finally, the considerations in choosing a specific adaptation of a methodology are discussed and applied by underpinning a research question on the care experiences of patients in the Accountable Care Unit. Thus, this methodological paper may assist novice researchers in deciding which specific adaptation of the two methodologies is the appropriate qualitative methodology for their research.

Patient and provider experiences using a site-to-site telehealth model for medication abortion

“…De-identified transcriptions were analyzed qualitatively with inductive coding using modified grounded theory methods (20). A modified grounded theory approach was applied to our analysis to assess the factors that impacted participants' perspectives of acceptability and impact on access (21,22). Analyses were facilitated by the use of Dedoose to identify themes related to acceptability of medication abortion and site-to-site TeleMAB by study staff.…”

Transitional care for older adults with chronic illness: A qualitative inquiry

“…This approach takes its root from epistemology and aims at understanding the lived experiences of persons as a crucial source of knowledge. A concrete description of reality is made possible through the principle of intentionality, described as directing one's mind to a phenomenon, which in this context relates to the challenges faced with hospital‐to‐home transition (Urcia, 2021). The methodological rigour adopted for the qualitative inquiry were emphasis on openness, questioning pre‐understanding and adopting a reflective attitude.…”

“Older, Entitled, and Extremely Out-of-Touch”: Does “OK, Boomer” Signify the Emergence of a New Older Adult Stereotype?

“…We used an exploratory, open-ended approach to coding the data via Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), wherein the researcher uses the participants’ data at face value and is permitted to interpret the participants’ words to find common themes among synonymous, if not identical, words and phrases (Finlay, 2009). The primary goal of IPA is to understand people’s lived experiences with a particular phenomenon by identifying themes, which in this instance is their social context of using, interpreting, and defining “OK, Boomer” and the titular “Boomers;” this was chosen over other qualitative methodologies such as grounded theory because to develop a sophisticated theory via an iterative, systematic process (above and beyond mere themes or descriptions) would benefit from a more substantial literature base to draw upon than what was currently known about this phenomenon at the time (Urcia, 2021). Two coders, one undergraduate research assistant and one graduate-level researcher, were asked to read the responses to the two open-ended questions, “In a few sentences or less, please describe what the phrase ‘OK, Boomer’ means,” and “Please describe a scenario in which someone would use the phrase, ‘OK, Boomer,” to come up with descriptors of “Boomers” that were identical or synonymous to how the participant portrayed them.…”