Grounded theory was established in 1967 and has evolved into a qualitative research methodology that is widely adopted across diverse disciplines. This study explores its foundational principles and key variations and emphasizes its methodological distinctions and philosophical underpinnings. It also addresses the integral processes that ensure a systematic approach to generating theory from data, such as continuous data collection, coding, category development, and theoretical sampling. It evaluates the measures of quality and validity accountability, transferability, dependability, and confirmability to establish robust practices and underscores the importance of balancing theoretical rigor with practical adaptability by drawing examples from its application in engineering education. The findings of this study will aid novice researchers in navigating the complexities of grounded theory, ensuring its integrity and efficacy in qualitative research.
Pamidimukkala et al. (Thu,) studied this question.