For a young doctoral researcher like me, being in the very early stage of my PhD career, this course was definitely a good starting point. Not only I learned how to theorize from the literature and empirical data, I also received excellent feedback on my thesis project.
- Deycy Sanchez, Hamstad University
When I first looked at the course content on the web, I wondered whether it could be fulfilled in 5 days… and it was. I had the opportunity to be in an international environment knowing young researchers interested in theory building. The assignments and the team work made me better understand the concepts hidden behind the inductive and deductive research. The feedback session on last day of the course was very much helpful, providing more insights into my research career. I would like to thank all the lecturers for their nice efforts to enhance my knowledge in theory building.
- Nazli Shahim, Aalborg University
I enjoyed learning to build theory from the Grounded Theory perspective and how its methods can be used in theory building in deductive research. It is ambitiously different in its approach and I welcomed the opportunity to learn firsthand from Dr. Andy Lowe. I got a lot of valuable feedback on my research design and was able to see more clearly what I need and want to do going forward.
- Martin Tiidelepp, Tartu University
Despite my expecting a wider range of theory building methods and methodologies, this doctoral course granted detailed insight into building theory by means of Grounded Theory. With Dr. Andy Lowe as guest lecturer and a live video-conference with Dr. Barney Glaser the course was spiced with first-hand knowledge from founding fathers of Grounded Theory. Throughout five course days I was gradually brought closer to a profound understanding of the Grounded Theory approach. This process was supported through lively and controversial conversations and debates with and among course participants. It helped me very much in delineating the methodological orientation of my own dissertation and opened up a new, Grounded Theory world which I might get back to later on. Besides course contents also extracurricular activities were well taken care of. I enjoyed daily rides by bicycle from the city-center to the University (ca. 6km) and back and spent some evenings with other course participants from different parts of Europe in Aalborg’s bars and pubs.
- Jan Hermes, Oulu Business School
This course has been an important contribution to my PhD journey at Aalborg University. The underlying pedagogical frameworks and examples were carefully selected to help young researchers like me to understand the secret of being a good researcher. Furthermore, direct communications with facilitators on various presented topics broaden my understanding of the grounded theory methodology in general and methods of theorizing and theory building in particular to the point of 'I will use the method'.
- Felix Adamu Nandonde, Aalborg University
I am very glad that I had the opportunity to attend the first edition of this course during my visiting period ad Aalborg University. Expecting a generalist course, I was rather surprised by its particular focus on the inductive research approach, specifically Grounded Theory. High quality teaching, first-hand experiences and examples, both in relation to inductive and deductive theory building techniques, have characterized the overall course contents and dynamics. Incremental practical learning was made possible due to 2 group work assignments, articulated in sessions through the whole course duration. Moreover, much space to socialize with the other participants from all across Europe was provided and the overall organization was excellent! Especially the feedback session the last day was very useful and I would like to thank all three lecturers for their valuable insights to my research project.
- Stefan Schaper, G. d'Annunzio University
The course was thematically based on Theory Building with a guiding principle in Grounded Theory. Grounded Theory serves as a strict example of inductive theory building and lends tools and methods to other approaches, which in turn gave me a good insight into the opportunities and pitfalls in theory building.
- Ivan Butler, Aalborg University
The course has mainly focused on the grounded theory as one of the alternative research methodologies. It has provided me with a deep understanding of the grounded theory methodology, its methods and techniques. Besides, during the course the students were given an opportunity to conduct a trial grounded theory research, thereby immediately applying acquired theoretical knowledge to practice. This course is ideal for those planning to use grounded theory as a research methodology.
- Irina Atkova, Oulu Business School