Grounded Theory Analysis Service: Open, Axial and Selective Coding

What this service covers

• Open coding of transcripts and field notes line by line or incident by incident
• Axial coding to connect categories, conditions, actions and consequences
• Selective coding to identify the core category and integrate the theory
• Constant comparison across cases and over time
• Memo writing to document analytic decisions
• Theoretical sampling advice and saturation checks
• Diagrams and models that show the emerging theory

What grounded theory involves

Grounded theory is a systematic way to develop theory from qualitative data. Data collection and analysis happen together: early findings shape who you sample next and what you ask. Researchers compare incidents, codes and categories repeatedly until the theory fits the data, which is called constant comparison. Different traditions exist, including the Glaserian, Straussian and constructivist (Charmaz) approaches. We work with the version your supervisor or journal expects and make that choice explicit.

Coding stages

Open coding breaks the data into small, labelled pieces. Axial coding relates categories to each other, for example linking conditions, actions and consequences. Selective coding focuses on the core category that ties the others together. Throughout, memos record why codes were created, merged or dropped. Software such as NVivo, MAXQDA or ATLAS.ti keeps codes and memos linked to the original text.

Saturation and quality

A grounded theory is credible when categories are well developed and new data stop producing new properties, which is often called theoretical saturation. We help you judge saturation honestly and document how you reached it. If your aim is to describe patterns rather than build theory, thematic analysis may be the better fit, and we will tell you if so.

How the work runs

1. You share your research question, your grounded theory tradition and the data so far.
2. We agree the coding approach and software.
3. We code in stages, write memos and compare across cases, and discuss emerging categories with you.
4. You receive the coded dataset, category definitions, memos, diagrams and a written account of the theory.

What you receive

• A coded dataset with category definitions
• Analytic memos documenting key decisions
• A diagram of the emerging theory and core category
• A written account of the theory with supporting extracts
• A methods section describing the grounded theory process