The Use of Grounded Theory in Researching Information Centres

Abstract

This chapter challenges information management researchers to employ the grounded theory research approach as it is detailed, rigorous, systematic, and flexible. The approach also permits researchers to go beyond the conventional thinking by allowing the emergence of new conceptual models, theories, and framework(s) on the subject under investigation. The chapter provides a discourse on the key features of grounded theory and the two fundamental schools of grounded theory. The overall aim of the chapter is to explain the applicability and rationale of grounded theory in researching information centres. As such, the chapter discusses the perceived challenges of using grounded theory, debates the place of literature in a grounded theory study, and explores the issues of research population, sampling, and sample size in a grounded theory research. Other essential aspects discussed in the chapter are the concepts of credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. The chapter also demonstrates how data in a grounded theory study should be analysed and processed.