The Grounded Theory Review (2014), Volume 13, Issue 2
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supermodel for beginning CGT novices. They are pointed to as proof positive of the joys and
legitimate value of a CGT dissertation. Brianna Both wrote me that she “knew Bene Brown
who produced the most powerful GT theory, so it was her work which pointed me to CGT
and you Dr. Glaser. Brene wrote in her publication Daring Greatly “I want to acknowledge
Dr. Glaser who was willing to come from California to the University of Houston to serve on
my dissertation committee. He literally changed the way I see the world.” Brianne thus
followed her model, Brene, to the nth degree and herself did a wonderful dissertation.
Referring to my input further legitimated her using Brene as her supermodel. The model
path convinced the choice of CGT for a dissertation and academic career. In these cases,
the philosophy of the CGT methodology becomes strongly the novice’s philosophy of method
and even life: not knowing beforehand becomes the root to eventual knowing from the
emergent. The approach to knowing by not knowing is liberating.
Not knowing beforehand until the data is conceptualized easily becomes a personal
way of life. This of course supports further firmness in choosing CGT for the dissertation. We
all do mini GTs for personal problem solving. We run our patterns constantly. We look at the
data and try to spot the patterns involved that explain a problem or our main concerns and
then we follow the pattern. We are constantly resolving these concerns. Thus CGT
procedures and trust in conceptualization spills over into personal life. There becomes a
reciprocal support for the method between doing CGT and solving personal problems. This
occurs naturally for many of us and thereby firms up a decision to choose CGT for the
dissertation. Again it makes the rhetorical wrestle a moot waste of time. Applying CGT
personally gives the person a level of power over his life and liberation in academic pursuit
of the PhD. Choosing CGT is automatic, like what else would one choose to find out what is
really going on. Personal life is changed from preconception to follow academic openness to
the data however slower the pace to emergence. It makes being a PhD candidate very
meaningful and grounded as opposed to the usual critique of academia that it is just lofty
rhetoric. The personal use of CGT is private and thus very seldom mentioned in the
literature. It helps dealing with life patterns such as in divorce, in marriage, in illnesses. In
child rearing, in custody fights etc, etc. Its power, if used privately, convinces the novice of
its power academically so it is chosen.
Choosing CGT may end with the completion of the PhD as no need or funds to do
future CGT. But many wish to continue if they can find the resources. Jeanette Eriksson
wrote me, “I just want to say that my journey over the doing GT has been great and I found
out how much I want to use CGT in the future.” Thus future choosing carries the motivation
to continue doing CGT, if the opportunity and resources are part of the subsequent
academic career. If not, or research interests subside after the PhD the choice may end. The
choice need not go on forever and the now PhD can turn to other methods if interested or
joining a big preplanned research project. The choice can end with the awarding of the PhD
and doing no more research.
Also the choice for CGT can come late. A lady wrote me: “After using other types of
research methods for over 20 years, I am so glad to have come across CGT. Your work is
really what we need in management research.” Quite often the choice to do more CGT after
the dissertation is done is to renew the excitement of discovery and share it. Simple
interview research can be quite inexpensive.