Grounded Theory with the Use of the Atlas.Ti Software: An Empirical Example of a Study on the Ascenting Strategy of Innovative Entrepreneurship in Social Business
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5585/riae.v17i3.2683Keywords:
Grounded Theory. ATLAS.ti. Emprendimiento Innovador. Negocios Sociales.Abstract
Purpose of the study: To explore how the innovative entrepreneurship strategy of social entrepreneurship qualifies the offer of educational and health products and services.
Methodology / approach: We adopt the qualitative research termed Grounded Theory, based on empirical data. For this purpose, we develop a didactic example, with the detailed use of the ATLAS.ti Software. The hermeneutical unit (project in ATLAS.ti) contemplated the following primary documents: (a) life stories of six social entrepreneurs; (b) reports on the development of social affairs (Cren, Cies, Geekie, Imaflora, Educar and Noos) and (c) testimonials of impacted individuals.
Main results: In relation to the main results, we highlight the didactic detail on how ATLAS.ti is used to support the codings (open, axial and selective), which underpin the Grounded Theory, promoting the organization, recovery and cross-referencing of data about the strategy of the rise of innovative entrepreneurship in social affairs;
Theoretical / methodological contributions: The main contribution is the proposition of a Grounded Theory alignment matrix, with detailed use of the ATLAS.ti Software, considering as a didactic example the strategy of the rise of innovative entrepreneurship in social businesses, which qualify the supply of education and health products and services.
Relevance / originality: We are able to demonstrate the associations between categories and subcategories of study analysis from characteristic components of ATLAS.ti (not available in other CAQDAS), such as Code Cooccurence and Networks.