Centre stage diagrams: a new method to develop constructivist grounded theory – late-stage Parkinson’s disease as a case exemplar

Abstract

A recent advance to the ‘classic’ grounded theory approach of Glaser and Strauss’ seminal work has been the development of constructivist grounded theory. While constructivist grounded theory has significant utility, centre stage diagrams were developed by the authors to help integrate ‘storied meaning’ and diagramming into a method of data collection, analysis and theory development/presentation. Centre stage diagrams are co-constructed by the researcher and participant and use the participant’s own life course, language and conceptual visualization of their subjective experience and are created over prolonged engagement. Centre stage diagrams are reached by the researcher and participant mutually engaged and interacting with two inter-related questions: i) what is the centre stage storyline in the lived representation of the phenomenon under study? and ii) who is centre stage in that lived experience? Our work in late-stage Parkinson’s disease is used to illustrate this approach to theory building and generating constructivist grounded theory. Centre stage diagrams have potential for development as a practice tool and/or as an independent research method.