Adopting a constructivist approach to grounded theory: Implications for research design

• Published in: International journal of nursing practice Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 8 - 13
• Main Authors: Mills, Jane, Bonner, Ann, Francis, Karen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Science Pty 01.02.2006; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Abstracting and Indexing as Topic; Appreciation; Attitude of Health Personnel; Attitude to Health; Constructivism; Constructivist approach; Cooperative Behavior; Data Collection; Epistemology; Ethical Relativism; Feminism; Grounded theory; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Knowledge; Mutuality; Narration; Nursing; nursing methodology research; Nursing Methodology Research - organization & administration; Nursing Theory; Philosophy, Nursing; Postmodernism; Power (Psychology); Prejudice; Qualitative Research; Relativism; Research Design; Research methodology; Research Personnel - psychology; Researcher-Subject Relations - psychology; Self-Assessment; Theorists; Thinking; Writing
• ISSN: 1322-7114; 1440-172X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-172X.2006.00543.x

Grounded theory is a popular research methodology that is evolving to account for a range of ontological and epistemological underpinnings. Constructivist grounded theory has its foundations in relativism and an appreciation of the multiple truths and realities of subjectivism. Undertaking a constructivist enquiry requires the adoption of a position of mutuality between researcher and participant in the research process, which necessitates a rethinking of the grounded theorist's traditional role of objective observer. Key issues for constructivist grounded theorists to consider in designing their research studies are discussed in relation to developing a partnership with participants that enables a mutual construction of meaning during interviews and a meaningful reconstruction of their stories into a grounded theory model.