The Importance of Epistemology When Defending a Doctoral Thesis

This article sets out a conceptual discussion based on a lively epistemological debate that took place during a doctoral viva voce examination for a classic grounded theory (GT) study (an exploration of police behaviour during domestic abuse incidents). The discussion uncovered conflicts regarding h...

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Main Author: Daniel P. Ash
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sociology Press 2022-06-01
Series:Grounded Theory Review: An International Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://groundedtheoryreview.org/index.php/gtr/article/view/425
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author Daniel P. Ash
author_facet Daniel P. Ash
author_sort Daniel P. Ash
collection DOAJ
description This article sets out a conceptual discussion based on a lively epistemological debate that took place during a doctoral viva voce examination for a classic grounded theory (GT) study (an exploration of police behaviour during domestic abuse incidents). The discussion uncovered conflicts regarding how methodology is viewed from different research traditions, and the potential impact of this problem on how research (like classic GT) is received and understood by scholars from different research philosophical perspectives, such as positivism. It also revealed how challenging it is, for a novice researcher, to adequately convince others of the rigorous nature of classic GT without reference and comparison to the research philosophical ideas that underpin other research traditions, more broadly. I claim that research philosophy must be addressed more fully by classic GT scholars if they are to encourage the uptake of classic GT by more doctoral candidates.
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series Grounded Theory Review: An International Journal
spelling doaj-art-9b4da1b45faa44e1a6d244144238c2972025-08-20T03:23:57ZengSociology PressGrounded Theory Review: An International Journal1556-15421556-15502022-06-012101The Importance of Epistemology When Defending a Doctoral ThesisDaniel P. AshThis article sets out a conceptual discussion based on a lively epistemological debate that took place during a doctoral viva voce examination for a classic grounded theory (GT) study (an exploration of police behaviour during domestic abuse incidents). The discussion uncovered conflicts regarding how methodology is viewed from different research traditions, and the potential impact of this problem on how research (like classic GT) is received and understood by scholars from different research philosophical perspectives, such as positivism. It also revealed how challenging it is, for a novice researcher, to adequately convince others of the rigorous nature of classic GT without reference and comparison to the research philosophical ideas that underpin other research traditions, more broadly. I claim that research philosophy must be addressed more fully by classic GT scholars if they are to encourage the uptake of classic GT by more doctoral candidates. https://groundedtheoryreview.org/index.php/gtr/article/view/425Classic grounded theoryepistemologyresearch philosophypolice researchpositivismabductive research
spellingShingle Daniel P. Ash
The Importance of Epistemology When Defending a Doctoral Thesis
Grounded Theory Review: An International Journal
Classic grounded theory
epistemology
research philosophy
police research
positivism
abductive research
title The Importance of Epistemology When Defending a Doctoral Thesis
title_full The Importance of Epistemology When Defending a Doctoral Thesis
title_fullStr The Importance of Epistemology When Defending a Doctoral Thesis
title_full_unstemmed The Importance of Epistemology When Defending a Doctoral Thesis
title_short The Importance of Epistemology When Defending a Doctoral Thesis
title_sort importance of epistemology when defending a doctoral thesis
topic Classic grounded theory
epistemology
research philosophy
police research
positivism
abductive research
url https://groundedtheoryreview.org/index.php/gtr/article/view/425
work_keys_str_mv AT danielpash theimportanceofepistemologywhendefendingadoctoralthesis
AT danielpash importanceofepistemologywhendefendingadoctoralthesis