Challenges in combining different data sets during analysis when using grounded theory
Intended for healthcare professionals
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Challenges in combining different data sets during analysis when using grounded theory

Tuula-Maria Rintala Lecturer, Tampere University of Applied Sciences, Finland
Eija Paavilainen Professor, University of Tampere, Finland
Päivi Åstedt-Kurki Professor, University of Tampere, Finland

Aim To describe the challenges in combining two data sets during grounded theory analysis.

Background The use of grounded theory in nursing research is common. It is a suitable method for studying human action and interaction. It is recommended that many alternative sources of data are collected to create as rich a dataset as possible.

Data sources Data from interviews with people with diabetes (n=19) and their family members (n=19).

Review methods Combining two data sets.

Discussion When using grounded theory, there are numerous challenges in collecting and managing data, especially for the novice researcher. One challenge is to combine different data sets during the analysis. There are many methodological textbooks about grounded theory but there is little written in the literature about combining different data sets.

Conclusion Discussion is needed on the management of data and the challenges of grounded theory.

Implications for research/practice This article provides a means for combining different data sets in the grounded theory analysis process.

Nurse Researcher. 21, 5, 14-18. doi: 10.7748/nr.21.5.14.e1220

Peer review

This article has been subject to double blind peer review

Conflict of interest

None declared

Received: 01 January 2013

Accepted: 08 July 2013

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