Grounded Theory

Because this study included multiple datasets, a grounded theory technique was employed to understand and discover patterns within the data. All data was analyzed using themes and patterns derived from the research questions and patterns that developed during the grounded theory analysis. In its basic form, grounded theory, developed by the sociologists Glaser and Strauss (1967), is a theory of research analysis and epistemology that emphasizes using the data itself to generate both theories and categories for analysis rather than applying a pre-existing theory or framework to the data. Although a substantial amount of debate about grounded theory has taken place between Glaser and Strauss since their initial joint publication, the basic concepts of their work are still useful and pertinent to an exploratory study such as this one.

 Grounded theory analysis moved from the micro level, looking at individual students and patterns, to the macro level, examining the larger themes within the data. Each data set was first analyzed separately at the micro level and then patterns were compared between the different datasets for triangulation. For example, to analyze the qualitative survey questions, I categorized and counted the responses to individual questions. After extensive analysis, categories emerged concerning their definitions of writing, FYC classes, and so forth and the analysis moved from the micro to the macro level and I compared datasets. (Driscoll, "Connected, Disconnected, or Uncertain: Student Attitudes about Future Writing Contexts and Perceptions of Transfer from First Year Writing to the Disciplines")