What is grounded definition?

Grounded definition refers to an approach used in qualitative research where researchers generate theory and concepts grounded in the data collected directly from participants or their observation of social processes. The grounded definition approach is based on the assumption that participants' experiences and perspectives are the most important pieces of information in any qualitative study. In grounded definition, researchers gather data through interviews, observation, or document analysis and use the data to create codes, categories, and themes that help them develop a theoretical understanding of the phenomenon under study. The approach involves systematically analyzing data to identify common themes, relationships, and patterns that help researchers develop explanations or theories that are grounded in the data and the perspectives of the participants. Grounded definition helps researchers to be more objective by letting the data drive the interpretation of the phenomena under study.