Grounded theory application in doctorate research

Abstract

Researchers working towards a doctorate need to make choices and defining the appropriate methodological approach is one of them. Usually, the choices are made based on the suggestions of a supervisor. In other cases, however, such as in a highly reflexive set-up required for an educational doctorate, there is more space for personal initiatives by the candidate. In this paper a case of doctorate research methodology is presented, which can serve as contemplation for fellow researchers who are preparing their study. An interaction of reflexive narrating and grounded theory methodology is applied. This approach incorporates personal and professional reflexivity to prelude a rigorous field study. The starting point of the research consisted of constructing narratives based on the researcher's personal experiences and observations from ten years of professional practice. Next, the scarce specific literature about the phenomenon and the wider connected literature on entrepreneurship and leadership were reviewed. In the following field study, ten successful small upper segment culinary restaurant owners were asked in depth interviews about their experiences and perceptions of successful entrepreneurship. To validate the practitioners' interviews, a research journalist and expert connected to the entrepreneurs' community was interviewed. A constructivist grounded theory approach as proposed by Charmaz (2006) was employed, involving analysis moving from interview to interview. The information obtained from the first eight interviews subsequently formed the basis for defining code labels and categories that captured the entrepreneurs' worlds. After tentatively formulating a social construct, three additional interviews were done to engage in theoretical sampling, comparing and validating the findings. Revisiting the literature, while analysing the findings supported the refining of the concepts and emerging themes. The last three interviewees were selected because of their specific knowledge about the substantive field and/or higher level of abstraction. Although the chosen approach is neither the most efficient nor easy one for applying in doctorate research, it does provide an interesting alternative for more regularly applied designs. The findings of this study provided valuable insights into the nature of entrepreneurship in the culinary restaurant sector and generated the definition of a social construct, which attempts to capture the complex process leading to success. The distinctive nature of this research design lies in starting from a reflexive practitioner's position and subsequently applying systematic grounded theory procedures in order to produce findings that enlighten the practices in a particular professional sector. This research example can serve as helpful for doctorate researchers who would aspire to explore and explain phases of their own personal and professional life with the aim to develop knowledge that can support practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Proceedings of the European Conference on Research Methods for Business & Management Studies is the property of Academic Conferences & Publishing International Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)