Staying Open: The use of theoretical codes in grounded theory

• Main Authors: Barney G. Glaser, PhD., Hon. PhD., with the assistance of Judith A. Holton
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociology Press 2005-11-01
• Series: Grounded Theory Review: An International Journal
• Subjects: theoretical codes; classic grounded theory
• Online Access: http://groundedtheoryreview.com/2005/11/21/1487/

Theoretical codes (TCs) are abstract models that emerge during the sorting and memoing stages of grounded theory (GT) analysis. They conceptualize the integration of substantive codes as hypotheses of a theory. In this article, I explore the importance of their emergence in the development of a grounded theory and I discuss the challenge of the researcher in staying open to their emergence and earned relevance rather than their preconceived forcing on the theory under development. I emphasize the importance of GT researchers developing theoretical sensitivity to a wide range of theoretical perspectives and their associated codes. It is a skill that all GT researchers can and should develop.