Grounded Theory

Grounded Theory will be used throughout this study. Charmaz constructivist approach to grounded theory will be applied, with the methods of Glaser.

Charmaz’ approach was chosen due to the underlying assumptions. One assumption is that the researcher has prior knowledge and opinions, the researcher may have an expectation of what is occurring in the social situation and plan to conduct the research with a view to developing a theory about the context (Charmaz 2006). Chamaz approach is considered effective in using grounded theory to study social justice issues. A social justice emphasis considers the access of the participants to resources, the hierarchies that exist in the situation and the polices / practices (Charmaz 2005). Since it is

The approach can be used when the researcher wants to understand the social processes occurring in a given situation. Grounded theory provides a suitable way to explore the perceptions and feelings of those being studied in a given situation. Grounded theory considers people as active participants with complex social environments’ (Strauss & Corbin, 1997 or should this be Glaser? these two have similar yet very different approach to Groudned Theory, and yours should be Glaser? ). The strategy of grounded theory is to study interactions and interpret the meaning of the situation relating the participants. Within the phenomenon of women’s interactions during pregnancy, various factors will influence their perception of modes of delivery. Currently these influences are not well understood among the nulliparous women. Grounded theory provides a framework where factors can be studied in terms of how the woman appropriates meanings. The emerging theory can then be used to inform health care providers practice when caring for pregnant women with the intention to provide women the opportunity to make an informed choice on their mode of

Women generate personal meaning to information they receive about the mode of delivery, during pregnancy. As there is little existing data describing the interactions and meanings to pregnant women, it is the aim of this study to explore and to develop a preliminary theoretical framework adopting this approach of ….. for inquiry.

Glaser is often cited as encouraging the researcher to come to the situation with no prior experience or knowledge and delaying the literature review (Artinian 2009). There is much dispute about the stances taken by both Glaser and Strauss (Charmaz 2006) however for the purpose of this study the advice of Charmaz has been followed. Charmaz identifies that it has probably been necessary for the researcher to conduct a literature review to meet the requirements of the university or funding agency. However once data analysis commences to she advises to “let the material lie fallow” (Charmaz, 2006, p166). She recommends the literature review identifies the other theories so they can be incorporated into and support the emerging