Abstract

More than 50 years ago, Glaser and Strauss constructed the grounded theory methodology to develop substantive and formal data-grounded theories. Grounded theory is a rigorous methodology for generating theory grounded in data. It incorporates compare-and-contrast and abductive reasoning as its intellectual engine. Whenever one of these cognitive processes is engaged, so is the other. However, there is a need for a systematic means to assess how rigorous the grounded theory research process was employed. This paper aims to start this conversation among methodologists and practitioners by proposing three criteria to evaluate the trustworthiness of grounded theories’ research process. Grounded theory studies ought to include abductive discoveries, the results of variation-finding, and Tilly’s comparison framework. Examples from Forde’s macro-level grounded theory will be used to demonstrate the significance of adding evaluation criteria to assess the rigor of the research process.