Grounded theory methodology and practical application in environmental sustainability research: A methodological review

Abstract

Grounded Theory (GT) remains one of the most influential qualitative research methodologies for generating theory from empirical data. Since its introduction by Glaser and Strauss in 1967, Grounded Theory has undergone significant philosophical and methodological developments resulting in multiple variants of schools of thoughts including Classical Grounded Theory, Straussian Grounded Theory, and Constructivist Grounded Theory. Despite its widespread application across various disciplines such as health, education and business, Grounded Theory is often misunderstood and inconsistently applied, especially in the areas of theoretical sampling, data collection, constant comparative analysis, coding procedures, and memo writing. This paper reviews the historical evolution, fundamental principles, data collection procedures, analytical processes, and contributions of Grounded Theory to qualitative research. Using a methodological literature review of scholarly publications discussing Grounded Theory from 1967 to 2025 were examined. The review demonstrates that while Grounded Theory has evolved from a largely positivist orientation to more interpretive and constructivist perspectives, its core objective of generating theory grounded in empirical data remains unchanged. The paper further highlights the relevance of Grounded Theory in contemporary research and provides guidance for researchers seeking to apply the methodology rigorously. The results of this study revealed that Grounded Theory has been applied inconsistently in research and there is evident lack of adherence to the fundamental principles of the process. This study recommends that researchers employing Grounded Theory in their studies must align their philosophical stance, methodological procedures, and analytical stance to fit the chosen Grounded Theory approach and adhere to the tenets for rigor, transparency and trustworthiness of the research findings.   Keywords: