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Preface
Why write a book about a research study using grounded theory, a methodology that is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary? The first reason is that although the theory has now been in existence for many years, there has never been a book recounting its application through numerous interconnected studies, as it was originally intended to be used. Articles and chapters have been written about the results and uses of the methodology, elements of its use, its problems, its positives, the outline of its procedure, data collection issues, its philosophy, its epistemology, and all manner of analytical techniques. Books have been published about computer programs designed to evaluate its data, how to develop its studies, how it was invented, new angles on how to implement it, what the original authors really meant by it, where to use it, and where not to use it. Scholarly journals have been launched with the sole purpose of discussing each detail of its theory and implementation, from the practical to the highly abstract. One of its founders, Barney Glaser, even started an institute and publishing house devoted to its development and dissemination. This was something that he devoted his career to.