La scoperta e l’applicazione della Grounded Theory

This essay presents some methodological reflections on basic concepts present in the volume The Discovery of Grounded Theory, published by Glaser and Strauss in 1967, linking them to the empirical research work on the interactions between medical staff and terminal patients in hospital contexts, which led to its elaboration. Starting from some observations on the current developments of the Grounded Theory, the article then focuses on some principles such as the construction of substantive theories, the constant comparison, and the practical application of “grounded” sociological theories, more closely related to research on the end of life and, in particular, to the theory on the contexts of awareness of dying. The aim is to reflect on the topicality and applicability of the original concepts of the Grounded Theory, more than fifty years after its birth, beyond the many variations present today and the difficulty in conducting this type of research in the sociological field.