The Emergence of Critical Realist Grounded Theory A Transformative Perspective

Acknowledgement

Preface

Chapter 1: Critical Realism and Grounded Theory

Chapter 2: Grounding and Critical Realism

Chapter 3: Juxtapositions

Chapter 4: The Contested Literature Review

Chapter 5: All Are Data

Chapter 6: Using Retroduction to Navigate the Stratified Reality

Chapter 7: How Open Coding Moves Analysis from the Empirical to the Actual

Chapter 8: How retroductive coding moves analysis from the actual to the real

Chapter 9: Quality Criteria in Critical Realist Grounded Theory

Closing Remarks

References

Index

Biography

Ben Looker (Institute of Education, University of Worcester, UK) is a Senior Lecturer in Education and the Research and Knowledge Exchange Co-ordinator for the Institute. He co-leads the Psychology of Education Research Group, and his work focuses on relationships and social contracts in educational settings.

Alison Kington (Institute of Education, University of Worcester, UK) co-leads the Psychology of Education Research Group and has extensive experience of designing and conducting mixed methods research. Her work focuses on the nature, quality, and dynamics of educational relationships and identities.

‘As more researchers turn to critical realist grounded theory because of its potential to unlock new insights, this book is precisely what researchers need now. Spanning from conceptualization through analysis and writing, it provides practical guidance and solutions across the entire research process. I highly recommend this easy-to-read text.’

Associate Professor Timothy C. Guetterman, University of Michigan

 

‘This book offers a timely and compelling contribution to contemporary debates on critical realism, providing readers with a nuanced and substantive insight into the development, diversity, and application of this approach. Drawing skilfully on published critiques, empirical case studies, and thoughtfully constructed juxtapositions, the text delivers a distinctive and intellectually rich examination of both methods and theory. 

The book has significant potential to inspire scholars working within this space, encouraging critical reflection on contested methodological and epistemological issues, including the role of literature, the boundaries between discovery and generation, and the methodological tensions these positions inevitably produce. Importantly, the text does not shy away from these complexities; rather, it uses them productively to deepen understanding and advance debate. 

The practical elements of the book are particularly valuable, offering readers a supportive and, indeed, a ‘safe space’ in which to explore the subtleties of grounded theory and critical realist inquiry nuances that are often hidden within difficult‑to‑access academic literature. In doing so, the book brings to light dimensions of practice that are frequently implicit yet rarely articulated. 

Overall, this book provides a fresh, practice‑informed perspective, prompting critical questions about knowledge production, coding processes, and the extent to which these realistically reflect the lived work of research and its implications for evidence‑based cultures. It is a highly relevant and thought‑provoking text, and I wholeheartedly endorse it. Happy reading.’

Professor Michelle Howarth, Edge Hill University

 

‘This text provides the ideal grounding for a consideration of practical techniques to work through contemporary debates associated with grounded theory. I particularly welcomed the emphasis on precision in methodological terminology and language (as reflections of ontological assumptions) as the key to developing and presenting philosophically coherent research designs. The text will be of great interest to new researchers, as well as those who have undertaken grounded theory or critical realist studies previously.’

Professor Eleanor Bradley, Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor Research, University of Worcester