AMANDA HYNAN FINAL THESIS PDF

The core category is the one that represents the central phenomenon, around which all
of the other categories can be understood, the driving category which stands out as the
defining factor of the data set. Corbin and Strauss (1990) explain this may be an
abstract concept which has not appeared as an actual category but which pulls the
story of the categories together. They suggest it is identified by considering what is
the main idea within the data, can it be summarized within a few sentences, what is
driving the interaction and action of the participants, and what explains any variation
seen. Glaser and Strauss (1967) see this as the explanatory part of the process where
the researcher can raise their work past being merely descriptive to a level where it
can add to the knowledge base. Birks and Mills (2011) propose three factors that are
necessary for a grounded theory: an identified core category, an accumulated bank of
analytical memos, and theoretical saturation of major categories. The first of these
objectives is supported by the theoretical coding process.
Within this research study, the process of creating theoretical codes led to the
identification of nine categories. One was then identified as the core category around
which the remaining eight categories could be understood.
3.6.3.6. Memo writing
The second factor identified by Birks and Mills (2011) as necessary to a grounded
theory is a bank of analytical memos. Memos form a vital part of the analysis process
and memo writing is a technique specific to grounded theory. Memos vary in form
depending on the stage of the analysis and can become more complex as theory
emerges (Corbin & Strauss, 1990). Charmaz (2006) explains how they act as a pivotal
stage between collecting data and writing up the final report. She says they help a
researcher to stop and analyze ideas that are emerging during the coding process. The
process of writing memos allows the researcher to make and interpret comparisons
and variations.
Memos proved very useful within this research. During the transcription of the
interview data, the video footage often revealed several points that had been missed at
the time of the interaction. These were related to non-verbal communication gestures
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