This text presents a comprehensive introduction to developing conventional, mainstream theories derived from qualitative inquiry. It shares multiple examples of theories from different disciplines and includes end-of-chapter activities for exercising the skills necessary to develop an original theory.

This unique text shows researchers how to develop theories derived through qualitative inquiry. Johnny Saldaña illustrates how a theory is a research-based statement with an accompanying explicating narrative that contains six properties: concepts, propositional logic, parameters/variation, explanation/causation, generalizability/transferability, and the improvement of social life. The book features hundreds of examples of theories and metatheories from a wide range of disciplines and includes end-of-chapter activities for exercising the skills necessary to develop original theories. Just as Saldaña demystifies coding and qualitative data analysis in his bestselling Sage books, Developing Theory Through Qualitative Inquiry presents an accessible introduction to the principles and methods of theorizing for social insight.