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a conversation. The core strength of grounded theory method is that “it offers a foundation for

rendering the processes and procedures of qualitative investigation visible, comprehensible and

replicable” (Bryant & Charmaz, 2010, p. 33). Since the early development of grounded theory

method to more recent years, Covan (2008) suggested that research should begin inductively by

collecting and simultaneously analyzing the data, rather than deductively, with a hypothesis

generated from existing literature.

Doing grounded theory requires a set of flexible strategies, not rigid prescriptions

(Charmaz, 2003). Although grounded theory method is not a formulaic activity, there are a number

of generally accepted processes applied by researchers using this research approach. Grounded

theory is in the doing and discovering, a method of discovery that moves you forward in a non-

scripted manner. While Glaser taught students to “read data aloud, he also encourages the

discovery of patterns in the data” (Covan, 2008, p. 67). Glaser and Strauss’ (1967) seven key

elements of grounded theory guided the research design. These steps included:

1. Data collection cycles of coding, memoing or memo development, and theoretical

categorization, and data collection;

2. Constant comparative analysis of cases with each other and to theoretical categories

throughout each cycle;

3. Theoretical sampling process based upon categories developed from ongoing data analysis;

4. Theoretical saturation of categories rather than by the need for demographic

representativeness, or simply lack of additional information from new cases;

5. Theory is developed inductively from data rather than tested by data, and the developing

theory is continually refined and checked against the data;

6. Codes emerge from data and are not imposed a priori upon it;

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