Grounded theory in genetic counseling research: an interpretive perspective

Area of Science:

• Qualitative research methodologies in genetic counseling.
• Scientific and interpretivist paradigms in research.
• Grounded theory as a qualitative inquiry method.

Background:

• Qualitative inquiry is increasingly utilized in genetic counseling research.
• Diverse qualitative methods require clear evaluation criteria.
• Distinguishing rigorous from poor qualitative research can be challenging, especially for non-traditional methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight key components of grounded theory.
• To contrast scientific and interpretivist conventions within grounded theory.
• To illustrate how different paradigms yield distinct knowledge claims for genetic counseling.

Main Methods:

• Focus on grounded theory, a widely used qualitative method.
• Analysis of conventions within scientific and interpretivist paradigms.
• Comparison of methodological approaches and their implications for research evaluation.

Main Results:

• Grounded theory can operate within both scientific and interpretivist paradigms.
• Scientific conventions emphasize objectivity, reliability, validity, replicability, causality, and generalizability.
• Interpretivist conventions may prioritize different criteria for rigor and knowledge generation.

Conclusions:

• Recognizing the diversity of qualitative methods, including grounded theory, is crucial for genetic counseling research.
• Understanding paradigm-specific conventions aids in evaluating research rigor.
• Both scientific and interpretivist approaches within grounded theory can contribute valuable knowledge to genetic counseling.