This book is a timely and practical guide to conducting qualitative research with a socio-technical approach. It covers the foundations of research including research design, research philosophy, and literature review; describes qualitative data collection, qualitative data preparation and filtering; explains qualitative data analysis using the techniques of socio-technical grounded theory (STGT); and presents the advanced techniques of qualitative theory development using emergent or structured modes. It provides guidance on evaluating qualitative research application and outcomes; and explores the possible role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in qualitative research in the future.
The book is structured into five parts. Part I - Introduction includes three chapters that serve to provide: an overview of the book in Chapter 1; a brief history of the origins and evolution of the GT methods in Chapter 2; and an introduction to STGT in Chapter 3. Part II - Foundations of Research includes three chapters that cover: the building blocks of empirical research through a simple yet powerful approach to designing research methods (the research design canvas) in Chapter 4; the fundamental concepts of research philosophy in Chapter 5; and the myriad of literature review methods including those suited to STGT in Chapter 6. Part III - Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis includes four chapters that explain: the key concepts related to collecting qualitative data in Chapter 7; techniques used for collecting qualitative data in Chapter 8; how to go about preparing and filtering qualitative data in Chapter 9; and the qualitative data analysis procedures of open coding, constant comparison, and memoing in Chapter 10. Part IV - Theory Development includes two chapters that explain: what is considered theory (or theoretical outcomes) in Chapter 11; and the advanced STGT steps of theory development in Chapter 12. Eventually, Part V - Evaluation and Future Directions includ
