Informed Grounded Theory

“Second, the dictum can easily be used as an excuse for lazy ignorance of the literature (Silverman, 2000; Suddaby, 2006), which may lead to the belief and accusation that such research is “easy” and “atheoretical” (Morse, 1994).”

“Therefore, reflexivity is viewed as highly important among many later grounded theorists (e.g., Charmaz, 2006, 2008; Dey 2007; Dunne, 2011; McGhee et al., 2007; Mills et al., 2006a; Mruck & Mey, 2007).”

“According to Glaser (2004), memos are “theoretical notes about the data and the conceptual connections between categories” (p. 61).”

“There are, for instance, GT researchers who witness how literature in the field helped them to draw their attention to details in data, and then being able to go beyond the literature in their analysis (e.g. Bowen, 2006; Dunne, 2011; Stern, 2007).”

“In accordance with the pragmatistic view of knowledge and knowing, underlying the constructivist grounded theory approach (Charmaz 2006, 2014; Thornberg 2012), Thornberg et al. (2013) grounded theory of double victimizing is considered to be situated, fallible and provisional, and therefore…”

“For example, Thornberg (2012) argues for the necessity of doing a literature review, so that one can actively apply approaches such as theoretical agnosticism (Henwood & Pidgeon, 2003) and theoretical pluralism (Kelle, 2007).”

“Moreover, during the analysis, pre-existing theoretical concepts from literature, such as social construction, moral disengagement, stigma and labelling were used as ‘lenses’ and tools that helped me to focus the attention on certain phenomena, aspects and nuances, very much in line with the logic of abduction (Thornb…”

“We followed a constructivist variation of grounded theory methodology (GTM) [21, 59, 60]. central premise of constructivist GTM is that neither data nor theories are discovered, but are formed by the researcher’s interactions with the field and its participants [76].”

“In accordance with a constructivist approach, pre-existing theories and concepts were also used as a starting point as well as sensitive concepts – inspiration, possible seeing and analytical tools during the analysis (Charmaz 2006; Thornberg and Charmaz forthcoming; Thornberg 2012).”

“Glaser’s rejection of the researcher taking a philosophical position has been criticized as naïve because Glaser’s advocacy for and use of pure induction—letting data speak for themselves—is grounded in positivism (Thornberg, 2012).”

“Glaser even suggests not to do a literature review before conducting GT research [68], which is a rather extreme and debatable position [104].”

“We, then, used theoretical sampling of literature (Thornberg, 2012) to identify existing frameworks for CT and leveraged core categories from an existing qualitatively-derived CT scheme (Good, Yadav, & Mishra, 2017) to categorize and collapse initial codes into themes.”

“…pre-existing theoretical concepts from literature, such as labelling, performativity, normativities, and intersectionality were used as ‘lenses’ and tools that helped me to focus my attention on certain phenomena, aspects and nuances, very much in line with the logic of abduction (Thornberg 2012).”

“An ‘Informed Grounded Theory’ (Thornberg 2012) approach was used to analyse data, with Bourdieu’s theoretical tools, habitus, capital and field as the primary sensitising concepts.”

“These concepts can help the researcher to make constant comparisons between the data and the literature and thus to elaborate, revise or criticize pre-existing knowledge and extant theories (Corbin & Strauss, 2008; Thornberg, 2012).”

“An abductive approach to data analysis was employed (Timmermans & Tavory, 2012) to investigate the extent to which the data supported existing theory (i.e., deduction), whilst also providing the flexibility to generate new under-standings or explanations (i.e., induction; Kennedy & Thornberg, 2012).”

“…context (in Sweden; Forsberg et al., 2012), and American and Swedish students in middle childhood and adolescence (but in which possible age similarities and differences were not analyzed; Forsberg et al., 2018; Thornberg et al., 2012) reasoned about bystander behavior in prior qualitative studies.”

“Following steps of a grounded approach, we avoided forcing data into pre-existing categories, yet the researchers ’ knowledge of the relevant extant literature helped develop an informed theoretical sensitivity (Thornberg, 2012).”

“Since it is best used in the absence of hypotheses [21], this approach has been considered appropriate in the present situation when we do not have previous theories regarding the hybrid education system.”

“In line with other studies conducted using phenomenological research (e.g., Flowers et al. 1997; Karanika and Hogg 2016; Kreuzer, Cado, and Raïes 2020), while gathering the themes, the researchers explored how the data support/contra-dict existing theories (Thornberg 2012).”

“It draws from the findings of a qualitative study based on grounded theory (GT; Glaser and Strauss, 1967; Strauss and Corbin, 1990; 1998; Corbin and Strauss, 2008), in particular the constructivist interpretation promoted by Charmaz (2014) and the informed version suggested by Thornberg (2012).”

“Themes were allowed to emerge from research organically, interpreted in an ongoing basis, and related back to the extant literature in a loose interpretation of grounded theory (Thornberg, 2012), something which Kozinets (2015) describes as appropriate to analysing netnographic data.”

“For example, early versions of grounded theory encouraged conducting research without any prior theoretical knowledge as a way to eliminate preconceptions on the research process (Thornberg, 2011).”

“Such use of open, axial, and selective coding to expand upon high-level preliminary theorising is common (Matavire and Brown, 2013; Thornberg, 2012), even though these techniques were originally developed to support ‘grounded theory’ approaches (see Charmaz, 2000; Urquhart et al., 2010).”

“…Thornberg 2012; Thornberg and Charmaz 2014), the idea of analysing without preconception (i.e. the ideal of being ‘a blank sheet’; cf., Glaser 1978) was rejected, and instead a theoretical agnostic and pluralistic approach to pre-existing theories, concepts, and research was used (Thornberg 2012).”

“…mind and being aware that much of the originality of our research comes from an ‘unusual’ context, we choose the approach of ‘Informed Grounded Theory’ (Thornberg, 2012) to frame our research design, with ‘intimate familiarity’ (Charmaz, 2014) with the data and the context always prioritised, and…”

“Moreover, it is used to see what emerges from the data without bias from previous research (Thornberg, 2012).”

“This approach involves developing conceptual categories based on existing literature to explain data collected from individual cases and identifying patterned relationships among these concepts (Charmaz, 1995; Glaser, 2002; Themelis et al., 2022; Thornberg, 2012).”

“We engaged in memoing (Thornberg, 2012) by writing memos thorough the research process to record our ideas, keep track of our evolving thoughts, question our perceptions, and write down emerging conceptual linkages.”

“Strauss and Corbin (1990) aligned pragmatic grounded theory with broader research norms and positioned the literature review as a way to establish the phenomenon to be studied and what is already known about it (Heath & Cowley, 2004; Strauss & Corbin, 1990; Thornberg, 2012).”

“In the process of data-analysis, we a For the participants who were interviewed in round 2, we recorded the time post-stroke at the time of the second interview. combined inductive and deductive coding and analysis (see Thornberg, 2012).”

“Transcripts were analysed via a hybrid structured and open coding process (Miles & Huberman, 1994; Thornberg, 2012).”

“We used our pre-existing knowledge of theories (micro-political theory of the school setting) as sensitising concepts and analytical tools – not in a forced manner, but rather reflexively and with theoretical agnosticism and theoretical pluralism as guiding principles (Thornberg 2012).”

“Our approach to the data-analysis was both deductive (secondary analysis) and inductive (primary analysis larger study) [33], which enhanced the depth of our analysis [34].”

“Once the review is done, knowledge gained cannot be unknown so the slate cannot be blank (Thornberg, 2011).”

“While traditional grounded theory (particularly in the Glaserian tradition) suggests to ‘bracket’ theoretical preconceptions, contemporary approaches recognize that ingoing theoretical concepts are an unavoidable and indeed productive part of the abductive process of generating grounded theory [25, 53].”

“Having a broad repertoire of theoretical perspectives could also involve new theoretical insights, using a theoretical pluralistic approach (Thornberg 2012), or with an informed guessing approach (Chew 2020) to abductively explore new innovative ideas and insights.”

“As such, this study utilises informed grounded theory, which amongst other recommendations suggests the need for theoretical pluralism [4].”

“The interview coding and analysis was done in an iterative fashion following methods taken from informed grounded theory [41].”

“Informed GT rejects the view that the researchers ’ minds could be an ‘ empty sheet ’ ( tabula rasa ) while engaged in naive pure induction (Kennedy & Thornberg, 2018; Thornberg, 2012; Thornberg & Dunne, 2019).”

“In the third phase, theoretical coding was used to explore underlying relationships in the focus group data (Glaser 1978, 1998; Thornberg 2012).”

“Compared to a classical GT approach, we use these pre-existing theories as sensitizing concepts that support us in identifying tacit associations and being critically reflective [58].”

“In for example informed grounded theory, the literature and the knowledge we had prior to commencing the study does not leave us, but the approach do take a deliberate starting point in the data, from here open and axial coding begins [31].”

“Considering the particularities of the Chinese context, we use ‘Informed Grounded Theory’ approach (Thornberg, 2012) in the data analysis, with the data and the context always prioritised and ‘western’ class analysis tools only deployed reflexively, where necessary and appropriate, to establish…”

“Literature was an important ‘sensitising concept’ at all stages of the research process (Thornberg 2012).”

“As such a loosely constructivist approach to grounded theory allowing for a back-and-forth approach to data construction and emergence of concepts through data analysis, rather than a testing of preconceived hypothesis, was used to interpret data and build conclusions (as per Thornberg, 2012).”

“The reason was that in the tradition of Grounded Theory (Charmaz, 2014; Isabella, 1990; Suddaby, 2006; Thornberg, 2012; Twining et al., 2017) theories emerge from the data collected.”

“Instead, we adopted an informed grounded theory approach that involved theoretical agnosticism and theoretical pluralism, enabling us to be open and sensitive to data while at the same time reviewing and consulting literature (Thornberg, 2012).”

“Robert Thornberg mentions that memo is the “documentation of the researcher’s thinking process and theorizing from data” (Thornberg, 2012).”

“We can thus say we adopted an informed grounded theory approach, which means that we 281 used literature on total institutions and home as a framework for the analysis, while also being open 282 to new themes that emerged (Bowen, 2006; Thornberg, 2012).”

“The core category (Figure 1.1) of the selective coding process (Informed Grounded Theory) is identified by the researcher based on respondents’ perception as Tele-proximity, the need for human to human (embodied) interaction through tele-operations to promote learning objectives, improve communication, and bridge tran…”

“We worked abductively to analyse the data adopting an ‘informed grounded theory approach’ (Thornberg, 2012).”

“, their own pre-existing ideas, experiences and knowledge of relevant literature) [30].”

“We followed an abductive approach through an iterative interplay between collecting and analysing data, developing the theoretical framework, and advancing findings and discussion (Thornberg 2012; Kennedy 2018).”

“Data was analyzed in MAXQDA using principles of ‘informed grounded theory’ (Thornberg, 2012: 243), with open and axial coding to arrive at major concepts, while engaging with existing literature.”

“We conducted our analysis using Thornberg’s informed grounded theory [80], which is rooted in Charmaz’s constructivist grounded theory [16] and the pragmatist idea of abduction.”

“We apply an “informed grounded theory” approach that emphasizes the creative process that emerges when analyzing empirical data while being informed by theory (Thornberg, 2012).”

“In the process of data-analysis, an informed grounded theory approach was adopted (Thornberg, 2012).”

“In line with a constructivist grounded theory approach, we have used the literature as a possible source of inspiration, creative associations, critical reflections and multiple lenses (Thornberg 2012).”

“Our approach to the data analysis was both 225 deductive and inductive, enhancing the depth of our analysis (see Thornberg, 2012).”

“Indeed, Thornberg (2012) argues for what he terms an ‘informed GT’ approach, in which the researcher ‘takes the advantage of pre-existing theories and research findings in the substantive field in a sensitive, creative, and flexible way’ emphasising that they are not used ‘as forcing applications or deductions’ (p.”

“…teachers’ perspectives on the link between their teacher team and their school climate work, as the concepts fitted with the focus group data, showed relevance, and earned their way into the analysis, in accordance with an informed and constructivist grounded theory approach (Thornberg, 2012).”

“Therefore, we adopted an approach of theoretical agnosticism and theoretical pluralism, which allowed us to approach the data with sensitivity, while simultaneously reviewing and referring to the literature (Thornberg, 2012).”

“This approach is well-suited to engaging with ‘ informed grounded theory ’ (Thornberg, 2012) as employed within this study, where the research is guided by prior concepts but remains open to inductive discovery (Bryman, 2012).”

“Theories were considered as possible lenses and analytical tools through the logic of abduction, theoretical agnosticism and theoretical pluralism (Charmaz 2014; Thornberg 2012; Thornberg and Charmaz 2012).”

“The framework is accompanied by six game elements that are used to set the learning design into play: game goals, action space or narrative, rules, choices, challenges, and feedback.”

“Democratic theorizing, in contrast, engages with literature more fluidly, abductively (Thornberg, 2012) or inductively.”

“To find out if this was the case, an inductive Informed Grounded Theory study (Thornberg, 2012) was carried out with 14 indepth interviews with primary care staff.”

“We connected the themes to the broader theoretical categories (Thornberg 2012) derived from the literature – the four tensions identified in Table 1.”

“Grounded theory researchers use literature review to open their mind to wider possibility and to develop “informed grounded theory” that is critically situated in existent knowledge while always grounded in the data (Thornberg, 2012).”

“Therefore, we used an informed grounded theory approach (Thornberg 2012), by making use of sensitising concepts.”

“To explore the cognitive strategies used in sight-singing and to generate a comprehensive inventory, we adopted a qualitative inductive research approach based on grounded theory (Thornberg, 2012).”

“, Morgan, 1998) as well as for the constructivist grounded theory (GT) methods (Charmaz, 2006) in combination with classic GT methods (Glaser, 1998; Glaser & Strauss, 1967) and informed GT methods (Thornberg, 2012b).”