Do you need a research question in Grounded Theory?

Unlike other research methodologies, grounded theory researchers do not need a research question before commencing their project. Instead, grounded theory researchers start with an interest in learning about a topic area and refine their interest and focus of that topic as their data collection and analysis progresses. So goes the theory…

In reality, all researchers work within disciplinary and institutional contexts and are bound by the expectations of research panels, ethics committees and funding bodies; these expectations can include the need for a pre-defined research question before approval is granted. In these instances, a broad open-ended question related to the topic area may suffice, initiating data gathering by inviting the participant to respond to a general topic.

The open-ended research question is kept intentionally broad with no indication given about the potential direction or pre-defined focus for the study, instead an openness is offered to the research participants to explore, discuss and define the qualities and boundaries of the topic in their own terms. For the grounded theorist, having started with a broad research question, they need to be ready to alter their research question as more refined questions of greater significance are discovered.

While a pre-defined research question isn’t a requirement of grounded theory, articulating a broad open-ended research question can be helpful in facilitating the administrative aspects of grounded theory research. An open-ended research question can be used to navigate disciplinary and institutional contexts and initiate data gathering without unduly influencing the nature or direction of that data collection and subsequent theory development.

If you found The Grounded Theorist useful, please consider making a one-off or monthly donation. Thank you.

References

Bryant, A., & Charmaz, K. (2019). The SAGE handbook of current developments in grounded theory. SAGE Publications Ltd.          

Charmaz, K. (2014). Constructing grounded theory (2nd ed.). Sage.

Glaser, B. G. (1978). Theoretical sensitivity: advances in the methodology of grounded theory. Sociology Press.  

Simmons, O. (2009). Ethical review proposals. Retrieved 1 May 2024 from https://www.groundedtheoryonline.com/getting-started/ethical-review-irb/