Constructivist Grounded Theory - A simple introduction to Kathy Charmaz’s approach
Constructivist grounded theory – what on earth is that? How does it work? Keep reading because I’m going to tell you!
I’m Dr Elizabeth Yardley and I help PhD students get out of their own way and finish their doctorates. I’ve been doing that for 20 years and when it comes to PhD stumbling blocks, understanding specific methods is certainly one of them. I’ve got a lot of posts here on my blog about qualitative methods, breaking them down, simplifying them, cutting out the jargon – I’ll link to them here so check that out later if you want but for now, let’s get into it with constructivist grounded theory.
What is constructivist grounded theory?
Imagine you’re trying to make sense of how people behave in a particular situation - maybe you're studying how employees cope with stress in a high-pressure business environment, or how individuals in a social setting negotiate their identity.
Traditionally, research often starts with a theory, something already established, and then researchers go out to test it by collecting data.
That’s like starting a jigsaw puzzle by looking at the picture on the box.
But Kathy Charmaz’s constructivist grounded theory is different. It flips that process on its head.
Instead of starting with the theory - which is like starting with the picture on the box of the jigsaw puzzle - you start with the pieces.
You gather data, little bits of information from interviews, observations, or documents, and gradually, you begin to put those pieces together. The theory is something you construct from the ground up, based on what you find.
So, what makes it ‘constructivist’?
Instead of thinking of grounded theory as solving a jigsaw puzzle, imagine you're both the artist and the puzzle solver.
As you gather pieces of the puzzle (data), you're not just trying to match them to a pre-determined picture. You’re actually painting the picture as you go. Each time you fit a piece (code some data), you're deciding how the broader image (theory) will take shape. Your choices, perspective, and interpretations influence how the final picture turns out.
In Charmaz's constructivist grounded theory, the theory isn’t just something you uncover.
It’s not there waiting in the data, for you to go and dig it up.
It’s something you're actively creating.
Your experiences, biases, and insights help fill in the gaps between the puzzle pieces, making the process one of co-creation between you and the data.
So, by the end, the final picture reflects not just the pieces themselves, but also how you chose to interpret and arrange them.
Your background, your experiences, and your interpretation help shape the theory. This is a key idea in constructivist grounded theory. Charmaz emphasises that we, as researchers, are not separate from the research. Our own biases, perspectives, and contexts are always at play, and that’s something we need to recognise.
The role of the researcher
In traditional classical grounded theory the researcher is often seen as an objective data-collector, gathering pieces of truth from the field.
Charmaz, on the other hand, argues that the researcher is always constructing, or co-creating, the research with the participants.
This idea might sound a bit abstract, but think of it like this: when you interview someone about their experiences, they tell their story based on who they are, how they feel at that moment, and how they interpret their experiences. You, as the researcher, then interpret what they’ve said based on your own background, beliefs, and questions.
For example, if you're researching how business leaders make decisions in times of crisis, the way you frame your questions - whether you're focusing on emotions, financial outcomes, or team dynamics - will shape the answers you get.
As Charmaz would say, the data is constructed, not just discovered.
That’s worth repeating: the data is constructed, not just discovered.
If you only take one thing away from this blogpost, let that be it – write it down take a screenshot, whatever, that’s the super important bit!
How constructivist grounded theory works: a flexible puzzle
Let’s dig deeper into how constructivist grounded theory actually works.
(1) Start with data, not theory
Imagine you're in a new city. You don’t have a map. Instead of starting with directions (theory), you start by exploring (data collection).
You walk around, ask people for information, observe how things work, and gradually, you begin to make sense of the city. You might notice patterns, like how the city is laid out, what kinds of people live where, or how different neighborhoods are organised. Those observations become the pieces of your puzzle.
In constructivist grounded theory, you begin with data. You talk to people, you observe, you collect documents or reports, and from there, you start piecing together a theory.
Let’s say you’re studying how small businesses adapt to economic recessions. You begin by interviewing small business owners. At first, you might notice that they talk about things like "cutting costs" or "retaining customers." As you collect more data, you realise that there’s a deeper pattern around “emotional resilience” - how owners emotionally cope with uncertainty shapes their decisions. That insight becomes a cornerstone of your theory, and it came directly from your data, not from an existing theory.
(2) Coding - organising the puzzle pieces
As you gather your data, you start to code it. Coding is essentially a way to label chunks of data so you can see patterns.
Imagine each piece of data is like a small note. One note might say, “Employee feels burnt out due to long hours,” another might say, “Management isn’t listening to employee concerns.” With coding, you categorise these notes into broader themes. For instance, you might code both examples as “workplace stress” or “communication issues.”
But here’s the key: your codes aren’t set in stone. As you continue gathering data, your codes might shift. It’s like starting with the edge pieces of a puzzle and gradually filling in the middle as you go along. The picture becomes clearer the more pieces you have, and sometimes you realise you’ve been looking at a piece all wrong and need to shift it.
In a study of work-life balance among early-career lawyers, you might start coding data related to “time management” or “workplace culture.” But as you dive deeper, you might notice a recurring theme of “personal identity”—lawyers grappling with whether they see themselves as successful if they prioritise family over work. That might lead you to adjust your coding and explore the deeper identity issues that are influencing work-life balance.
(3) Constant comparison - the detective work
Now that you have some codes, you start comparing them. This process is called “constant comparison.” Think of yourself as a detective: you’re comparing clues, trying to see which ones fit together and which ones don’t. You might compare interviews from different participants to see if they’re saying similar things or if their experiences differ.
For example, if you’re studying how businesses adapt to remote work, you might compare the experiences of small companies with large corporations. Do they face similar challenges, or are they completely different? Constant comparison helps you refine your theory by showing where the patterns hold and where they break.
(4) Theoretical sampling - going where the data leads you
As you start seeing patterns emerge, you might realise you need more data in a particular area. This is where theoretical sampling comes in. It’s like following a trail of breadcrumbs. If something in your data sparks your curiosity, you go back and collect more information to deepen your understanding of that theme.
Let’s say you’re researching how people respond to redundancy. You notice that women in your study seem to face different challenges than men. This observation might lead you to specifically interview more women to explore this theme further. You didn’t start with the idea of gendered differences, but the data led you there, and now you’re following that path. Constructivist grounded theory enables you the flexibility to do this.
(5) Memo writing - your research diary
As you go through the process of coding and comparison, you also write memos. Think of memos as your research diary. They’re a place for you to jot down your thoughts, reflect on what you’re finding, and make connections between the data. These memos help you track how your thinking evolves over time. It’s like keeping notes as you put the puzzle together, so you don’t lose sight of any piece.
In your study of small businesses during economic recessions, you might write a memo reflecting on the emotional resilience theme: “I’m noticing that business owners who talk about emotional resilience seem to have more positive outcomes. Is there a link between mindset and financial success?” This memo helps you keep track of your thought process and can spark new ideas for further exploration.
Embracing complexity
Charmaz’s constructivist grounded theory is powerful because it embraces complexity. It acknowledges that reality isn’t black and white, and that different people experience the world in different ways. By incorporating the researcher’s perspective, it allows for a more nuanced understanding of the data.
In social sciences and management research where human experiences and behaviours are often messy and unpredictable, this approach is especially valuable. It allows you to explore the richness of people’s stories without forcing them into pre-existing boxes. You’re not just uncovering one “truth” - you’re exploring multiple layers of meaning, shaped by both the participants and yourself.
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