Theoretical sensitivity

A topic in research methodology

Theoretical sensitivity is a key concept of grounded theory studies.

“The ability to generate concepts from data and to relate them according to normal models of theory in general, and theory development in sociology in particular, is the essence of theoretical sensitivity. Generating a theory from data means that most hypotheses and concepts not only come from the data, but are systematically worked out in relation to the data during the course of the research.”

Glaser & Holton, 2004, ¶43

Theoretical sensitivity allows the researcher to undertake effective open-coding:

“The researcher begins to see the kind of categories that can handle the data theoretically, so that he/she knows how to code all data, ensuring the emergent theory fits and works. Open coding allows the analyst the full range of theoretical sensitivity as it allows him [sic] to take chances on trying to generate codes that may fit and work.”

Glaser & Holton, 2004, ¶49

“The first step in gaining theoretical sensitivity is to enter the research setting with as few predetermined ideas as possible – especially logically deducted, a prior [sic] hypotheses. In this posture, the analyst is able to remain sensitive to the data by being able to record events and detect happenings without first having them filtered through and squared with pre-existing hypotheses and biases.” (Glaser, 1978: 2-3).
Glaser, Barney G. (1978) Theoretical Sensitivity: Advances in the Methodology of Grounded Theory, California: The Sociology Press, 1978.

GT studies often have a deferred literature review,

“It is critical in GT methodology to avoid unduly influencing the pre-conceptualization of the research through extensive reading in the substantive area and the forcing of extant theoretical overlays on the collection and analysis of data.”

Glaser & Holton, 2004, ¶46

However, Glaser has argued that “Sensitivity is necessarily increased by being steeped in the literature…” (Glaser, 1978: 3)

This seems a contradiction, but can be understood as a recommendation to read widely, in order to expand the fund of interpretative resources, ways of making senese of data, available to the analyst, but not to close down the conceptualisation as one would in the literature review completed before collecting data in most studies. That is reading to keep the mind open, rather than to narrow its focus. (See 'Negotiating the essential tension: working within, across, and outside research traditions')

Sources cited:

• Glaser, Barney G. (1978) Theoretical Sensitivity: Advances in the Methodology of Grounded Theory, California: The Sociology Press, 1978.
• Glaser, Barney G. & Holton, Judith (2004) Remodeling Grounded Theory, Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 5(2), Article 4