Phenomenological Research and Grounded Theory: A Detailed Comparison

This essay provides a comparative analysis of phenomenological research and grounded theory, two prominent qualitative research approaches. It elucidates that phenomenological research aims to explore lived experiences and hidden meanings behind a phenomenon through the analysis of a specific population group's experiences. In contrast, grounded theory seeks to create meaning of any clinical issue through data interpretation and theory modeling. While both methods can be conducted with small sample sizes and utilize unstructured interviews with open-ended questions for data collection, their data analysis techniques differ significantly. Phenomenological research involves rereading transcripts and identifying meaningful units or codes, whereas grounded theory employs axial and selective coding to generate theories. The essay references key works in the field to support its comparison, highlighting the distinct intentions and processes of each research method.

Running head: RESEARCH
Research
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Author’s note

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Similarities and difference between phenomenological research and grounded theory:
Phenomenological research and grounded theory are two research approaches used in
qualitative research process. The main difference between the two approach is that
phenomenological approach aims to explore the lived experiences and hidden meaning behind a
phenomenon through the analysis of experiences of a specific population group, whereas the
grounded theory is an approach that aims to create meaning of any clinical issue through the
analysis and modeling of theories based on interpretation of data (Cronin & Lowes, 2016).
Grounded theory is a research method that is mainly concerned with generation of theory
grounded in data collected during a research process. The main intention of such research is to
uncover social processes and interpret social relationships and behaviors of a particular group
(Glaser & Strauss, 2017). In contrast, the main intention of phenomenological research process is
to come to a conclusion about the nature or characteristics of a particular phenomenon (Chance,
Duffy & Bowe, 2019).
The similarity between phenomenological theory and grounded theory is that both the
methods can be conducted with small sample size. Data collection in both the research method is
that both are done using unstructured interview with open-ended questions. However, the data
analysis method for the both the process differs. In case of phenomenological research, data
analysis is done by rereading transcripts and identifying meaningful units or code from the data.
In contrast, in case of grounded theory, axial coding and selective coding is done to generate
theories (Cronin & Lowes, 2016).

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References:
Chance, S., Duffy, G., & Bowe, B. (2019). Comparing grounded theory and phenomenology as
methods to understand lived experience of engineering educators implementing problem-
based learning. European Journal of Engineering Education, 1-38.
Cronin, C. J., & Lowes, J. (2016). Brief encounters with qualitative methods in health research:
Phenomenology and interpretative phenomenological analysis. Cumbria Partnership
Journal of Research Practice and Learning,, 5(1), 8-12.
Glaser, B. G., & Strauss, A. L. (2017). Discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative
research. Routledge.