title: How to recognise a 'quality' grounded theory research study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The quality of a research study is a key issue for clinical practitioners committed to the delivery of 'best-practice' patient care. With the increasing use of grounded theory in nursing research, attention is now focusing on the quality of studies using this research methodology. Indeed, within the growing body of grounded theory in nursing some methodological problems are emerging that raise questions about the quality of the research.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper recognises that clinical practitioners need to be critical readers of grounded theory research, so that they recognise 'quality' research studies and can develop their clinical practice based on sound research findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Grounded theory should be viewed as a package of research methods that includes the use of concurrent data collection and constant comparative analysis, theoretical sampling and memoing, all of which can create an awareness and an appreciation of the scientific merit required of grounded theory research and promote quality standards relating to research practices in grounded theory methodology.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lazenbatt
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D011786:Quality Control; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013223:Statistics as Topic / Q000379:methods