Developing an e-Learning Theory for Interaction and Collaboration Using Grounded Theory: A Methodological Approach

Authors

Rachael Njeri Kibuku Dr., KCA UniversityFollow
Daniel O. Ochieng Prof, University of NairobiFollow
Agnes N. Wausi Prof, University of NairobiFollow

Abstract

Grounded Theory (GT) is becoming an increasingly prevalent research methodology in many fields. Although researchers use it in qualitative and quantitative studies, it is more popular with qualitative studies, as evidenced by the citations from previous research. This paper aims to document and present how we used GT in our qualitative research to construct an e-learning theory for interaction and collaboration. It also includes the justification of GT. We adopted and adapted the constructivist GT (CGT). Therefore, this paper discusses the CGT methodology, its philosophical, ontological and epistemological perspectives. It also includes the research design that captures how we sampled the participants, collected, analyzed and interpreted the data, and how we documented the research findings in the context of CGT. It also includes the justification of the decisions we made and the extent to which they align with CGT. Using CGT, we listened to, observed and captured e-learners’ and e-tutors’ stories and experiences which yielded rich and insightful data that informed the development of the e-learning theory for interaction and collaboration. We also present the challenges we experienced when using CGT and the strategies we used to overcome them. Finally, we have included the methodological insights we drew from using CGT in our research. This paper has presented the CGT design strategy; thus, it will be helpful, especially to novice and future researchers aspiring to use the methodology to conduct their research.

Keywords

qualitative research, grounded theory, methodology, e-learning, interaction and collaboration

Author Bio(s)

Dr. Rachael Njeri Kibuku is lecturer at KCA University, Faculty of Computing and Information Management and also PhD (Information Systems) student at the University of Nairobi, School of Computing and Informatics. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to: rkibuku@kca.ac.ke.

Prof. Daniel Orwa Ochieng is a senior lecturer at the School of Computing and Informatics, University of Nairobi. His area of specialization is in Information Systems. Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: dorwa@uonbi.ac.ke.

Prof. Agnes Nduku Wausi is also a senior lecturer at the School of Computing and Informatics, University of Nairobi. Her area of specialization is in Information Systems. Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: wausi@uonbi.ac.ke.

Acknowledgements

This research acknowledges the funding received from National Research Fund (NRF) Kenya and KCA University towards the PhD research.

Publication Date

9-7-2021

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2021.4739

Recommended APA Citation

Kibuku, R. N., Ochieng, D. O., & Wausi, A. N. (2021). Developing an e-Learning Theory for Interaction and Collaboration Using Grounded Theory: A Methodological Approach. The Qualitative Report, 26(9), 2836-2854. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2021.4739

ORCID ID

0000-0002-9590-0882