Grounded theory

Grounded theory (GT) should be considered a methodology and not just a simple data collection method. This is because it comprises several data collection methods such as observation, document analysis and interviews and is underpinned by a set of beliefs about how we can understand the social world (ology). There are a number of excellent textbooks that provide a detailed account of the GT process such as Strauss and Corbin’s Grounded Theory in Practice and Glaser and Strauss’ The Discovery of Grounded Theory . However, Strauss and Corbin’s Basics of Qualitative Research: Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory and Charmaz’s Constructing Grounded Theory remain the two most popular texts. GT has been adopted a number of times in sport settings to examine areas such as the delivery of video-based feedback in elite youth soccer, psychological resilience in Olympic champions, sports club retention, golf tourism, golf volunteers, parenting in youth tennis and dual career pathways in sport.