Research methodologies in genetic counseling: Grounded theory.

Area of Science:

• Qualitative research methodologies
• Grounded theory in scientific research

Background:

• Grounded theory, introduced by Glaser and Strauss, is a methodology for theory discovery from data.
• It has evolved into subtypes, including post-positivist and constructivist approaches.
• Understanding these approaches is crucial for rigorous qualitative research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the theoretical underpinnings and characteristics of grounded theory.
• To provide an overview of post-positivist and constructivist grounded theory.
• To outline key considerations for conducting and evaluating grounded theory research.

Main Methods:

• Grounded theory involves iterative stages: coding, concurrent data collection and analysis, constant comparative analysis, theoretical sampling, and memo-writing.
• Post-positivist frameworks seek objective reality through logical steps.
• Constructivist frameworks explore participant meanings within social contexts.

Main Results:

• The process yields a substantive theory directly derived from collected data.
• Grounded theory is applicable to diverse research areas, including genetic counseling.
• This article details the core components and philosophical variations of grounded theory.

Conclusions:

• Grounded theory offers a robust framework for generating theory from empirical data.
• Awareness of its philosophical underpinnings enhances research quality.
• This methodology is valuable for exploring complex phenomena in various scientific fields.