The theory analysis process involves analyzing the ideas that emerge from your data. This is an iterative process which requires flexibility as it’s impossible to know how much data you’ll need to gather ahead of time. Researchers who are using grounded theory (GT) continuously analyse and collect new data until they are theoretically saturated or the point where new data does not contribute to their developing theory.
The initial step of GT is to determine themes which are recurring through an exhaustive analysis of the data. These themes are identified and classified through relationship identification. This process is known as open coding, and is the basis of GT analysis. Researchers then make use of a process of constant comparison and memoing to create substantive codes or make connections between concepts. This helps create an integrated theory by putting disjointed concepts back together into hypotheses that work. The concepts are then weaved into these hypotheses by an process known as axial coding.
After the researcher has identified or tentatively identified a core or primary variable, they then selectively sample new data in order to keep this variable in mind, or conduct the theoretical sampling. This reduces the scope of research and focuses only on the data that is relevant to the question.
Thus the value of a theory isn’t restricted to the field of study it can be used as an instrument for understanding the meaning of the information you get from your data, and will aid in comparing and contrasting the different aspects of that data. This is a vital aspect of GT analysis and should be incorporated why not look here into your conceptual categories and techniques for coding in your methodology section.