The Grounded Theory Methodology in Psychology: A Review

Psychology has established itself as an empirical science and its application is essential in varied areas of human interaction. It needs a methodology to straddle the rigors of research, authenticity in application and construction and validation of theories and models that are pragmatic and underpin a strong knowledge base. Grounded Theory Methodology with its focus on inductive reasoning approach, ecological validity and empirical methods is suited to become the method of choice for qualitative research in varied domains of applied psychology.

This paper is based on the literature review of the research methodology for the doctoral dissertation. It reviews a collection of research papers, articles and dissertations that were carried out by psychological researchers utilizing the GT methodology. It identifies their rationale for choosing GTM, their data collection methods, the data analysis processes, the methods for ensuring the credibility of data and the research process, and the research outcomes and practical applications.

It concludes with recommendations to integrate the GT methodology into the research methodologies taught at the institutions of higher learning, to promote its use in organizations like government services, hospitals, NGOs, and workplaces to assess the suitability of interventions and their impact at multiple levels.