Which research design is used to develop theory from data via coding and constant comparison?

• A. Grounded Theory Research
• B. Phenomenological Research
• C. Narrative Research
• D. Survey Research

Answer: (A)

Grounded theory is a research design that develops theory from empirical data through systematic coding and the constant comparative method. Researchers collect data such as interviews or observations and begin coding line by line to identify concepts. These concepts are continually compared across incidents to refine categories and their relationships. As data gathering proceeds, the theory emerges from the data itself, guided by the findings rather than predefined hypotheses, with theoretical sampling and saturation helping shape and stabilize the developing theory. This approach differs from phenomenological research, which seeks to describe the essence of lived experiences; narrative research, which focuses on constructing and analyzing individual stories; and survey research, which gathers standardized data to describe variables and relationships. The key feature here is generating theory directly from data using coding and constant comparison.