Grounded Theory
Grounded Theory is a qualitative research methodology developed by sociologists Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss in the 1960s. It involves systematically generating theories from data through iterative processes of data collection, coding, and analysis, rather than testing pre-existing hypotheses. This approach is widely used in social sciences, healthcare, education, and software development to understand complex human behaviors and social processes.
Developers should learn Grounded Theory when conducting user research, analyzing qualitative data from interviews or observations, or developing user-centered software to derive insights directly from empirical evidence. It is particularly valuable in agile and design thinking contexts for understanding user needs, improving UX/UI design, and informing product development decisions based on real-world data rather than assumptions.