This highly practical book introduces the whole range of grounded theory approaches, providing a comprehensive description of the strategies and techniques employed in this methodology. Unlike most existing books in this area, it is not written from a particular philosophical standpoint, and is the ideal first introduction for any student or researcher looking to use grounded theory in their analysis for the first time.
Birks and Mills’ accessible and highly-readable text is driven by practical case examples throughout to help the reader get to grips with the process of doing grounded theory analysis for themselves. The book deploys a variety of educational activities to guide readers through both the principles and the application of grounded theory, making this an ideal starter text for those new to the approach.
This updated Second Edition:
- guides the reader through each step of the grounded theory process
- clearly explains how to memo effectively, using examples
- includes a chapter which explains the difference between data generation and collection
- features information on how to use digital resources to manage data
- discusses the philosophy and ethics of grounded theory within the qualitative paradigm.
Melanie Birks is employed as Professor of Nursing (Teaching and Learning) at James Cook University, a role which serves her passions for education, research and nursing. Her primary focus is on the promotion of scholarship in teaching and learning through mentorship and fostering a culture of research. She has extensive experience in international education, having taught in Hong Kong, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and Malaysia.
Her research interests are in the areas of accessibility, innovation, relevance and quality in nursing education to ensure preparation of graduates who are industry-ready and able to make a contribution to the profession. Her commitment to research is reflected in her publication history, which includes numerous journal articles and book chapters. Most recently, she co-authored a qualitative research text for graduate students, Qualitative methodology: A Practical Guide with Dr Jane Mills.
Jane Mills is Associate Professor, Director Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Research and Deputy Dean of the Graduate Research School at James Cook University, Cairns Campus, Australia. In this role Jane works closely with students and academic staff to build research and research education with the intent of creating a brighter future for life in the tropics world-wide through graduates and discoveries that make a difference. Jane’s research in in the areas of primary health care, health workforce development, health systems strengthening, and teaching and learning uses both grounded theory and mixed methods. Jane has published extensively in the area of qualitative methodology with her work on grounded theory particularly well received. She has been writing with Melanie for nearly 10 years and together they have produced a number of important peer-reviewed articles and books that have guided students in their own work. Visit Jane Mills’ website at http://research.jcu.edu.au/portfolio/jane.mills/.
