GT Theoretical Coding Families

A summary of grounded theory (“GT”) theoretical coding (“TC”) families from Barney Glaser’s (1978) Theoretical Sensitivity (pp. 74-82) and The Grounded Theory Perspective III: Theoretical Coding (Glaser, 2005, pp. 22-29). Please consider these TC’s as a guide, yet do not force them. TC’s should emerge through memoing, coding, and sorting.

Six C’s

The big c’s.

Context
Cause
Covariance
Condition
Contingent
Consequence

Causal

Causal relations.

Conjectural causation
Amplifying causal looping
Bias random walk
Repetitive causal reproductions
Equifinality
Conjunctural causation
Reciprocal causation
Triggers
Perceptual compounding

Process

A change of cause, where quantity of [process unit] is greater than two.

Stages, Staging
Phases, Phasing
Progressions, Progressing
Passages, Passaging
Gradiations, Gradiating
Steps, Stepping
Ranks, Ranking
Careers, Careering
Orders, Ordering
Trajectories, Trajectorying
Chains, Chaining
Sequences, Sequencing
Temporals, Temporaling
Shapes, Shaping
Cycles, Cycling

Temporal

Time lines
Pacing of action (in self, other, growing conditions etc.)

Degree

The degree of variance in variability.

Limit
Range
Intensity
Extent
Amount
Polarity
Extreme
Boundary
Rank
Grades
Continuum
Probability
Possibility
Level
Cutting Points
Critical Juncture
Statistical Average (Median, Mean, Mode)
Deviation
Standard Deviation
Exemplar
Modicum
Full
Partial
Almost
Half

Dimension

Divides a whole into parts; dimensions of a category.

Dimension of Dimensions
Element of Elements
Division of Divisions
Piece of Pieces
Property of Properties
Facet of Facets
Sector of Sectors
Portion of Portions
Segment of Segments
Part of Parts
Aspect of Aspects
Section of Sections

Type

Variation in a whole; combinations of categories.

Type of Types
Kind of Kinds
Style of Styles
Class of Classes
Genre of Genres

Strategy

Intent act to organize reality (lack of intent is consequence).

Strategies
Tactics
Mechanisms
Managed
Way
Manipulation
Maneuverings
Dealing With
Handling
Techniques
Ploys
Means
Goals
Arrangements
Dominating
Positioning

Interactive

Interactive pattern of two (2) or more variables.

Mutual Effects
Reciprocity
Mutual Trajectory
Mutual Dependency
Interdependence
Interaction of Effects
Covariance

Unit Identity

Identity-Self

Self-image
Self-concept
Self-worth
Self-evaluation
Identity
Social Worth
Self-realization
Transformations of Self
Conversions of Identity

Binary

Compliance with institutional or normal roles.

Boundary, Cutting-Point

Narrow distributions within degree of variance in variability.

Boundary
Critical juncture
Cutting point
Turning point
Breaking point
Benchmark
Division
Cleavage
Scales
In-out
Intra-extra
Tolerance levels
Dichotomy
Trichotomy
Polychotomy
Deviance
Point of no return

Outer Limits

Where distribution within degree … are at boundaries of distribution.

Means-Goal

End
Purpose
Goal
Anticipated consequence
Products

Cultural

Social norms
Social values
Social beliefs
Social sentiments

Consensus

Clusters
Agreements
Contracts
Definitions of the situation
Uniformities
Opinions
Conflict
Discensus
Differential perception
Cooperation
Homogeniety-heterogeniety
Conformity
Nonconformity
Mutual expectation

Mainline

Social control (keeping people in line)
Recruitment (getting people in)
Socialization (training people for participation)
Stratification (sorting people out by criteria which rank them)
Status passage (moving people along and getting them through)
Social organization (organizing people into groups, aggregates, and divisions of labor)
Social order(s) (keeping organization of life working together)
Social institution(s) (clusters of cultural ideas)
Social interaction(s) (people acting with people)
Social world(s) (symbolic surround life)
Social mobility(ies) (patterned path of people movement through society)

Theoretical

Parsimony
Scope
Integration
Density
Conceptual level
Relationship to data
Relationship to other theory
Clarity
Fit
Relevance
Modifiability
Unity
Condensibility
Inductive-deductive
Balance and interfeeding
Degree of
Multivariate structure
Use of theoretical codes
Interpretive
Explanatory
Predictive power

Ordering and Elaboration

Spatial; structural
Temporal
Conceptual; generality

Test for ecological fallacy.

Unit

Collective
Group
Nation
Organization
Aggregate
Situation
Context
Arena
Social world
Behavioral pattern
Territorial units
Society
Family
Positional units
- status
- role
- role relationship
- status set
- role set
- person set
- role partner

Fractals

Non-measurable aspects of units.

Paired Opposite

Micro – Macro

Halved distribution of size of units.

Symmetry – Asymmetry

Relative balance or out of balance on a dimension.

Reading

Concepts
Problems
Hypotheses

Model

Be constrained in the use.

Cross Pressures

“Abstract model of external conflict put on people by external pressures or conditions.” – Glaser

Isomorphism

Similarity between 2…n theories in a set, where 1…n theories in the set can model other theories in the set.

Asymptote

Getting as close to but not getting there.

Action

Cycling

Going over the same path; sequences of paths over and over again

Moment Capture

Quick interactions critical to optimal outcome.

Autopoisis

“Characteristic of living systems to continuously renew themselves and to regulate the renewal process in such a way that the integrity of their structure is maintained.” – Glaser, The Grounded Theory Perspective III: Theoretical Coding, 26

System Parts

Dependencies for a whole.

Ideal Type

Normative ideal model after-generated and compared-to what is found.

Frames

Socio-cultural perspective fixedness.

Balancing

Strategy involving handling of high-dimensionality using lower-dimensional decision making (ie. dichotomized, trichotomized … n-dimension-against decision making)