Grounded VERIFIED
Overview: In this paper we include a discussion of the origins of grounded theory, a description of key methodological processes, a comment on pitfalls encountered commonly in the application of grounded theory research, and a summary of the strengths of grounded theory methodology with illustrations from the medical education domain.
Grounded
Discussion: The significant strengths of grounded theory that have resulted in its enduring prominence in qualitative research include its clearly articulated analytical process and its emphasis on the generation of pragmatic theory that is grounded in the data of experience. When applied properly and thoughtfully, grounded theory can address research questions of significant relevance to the domain of medical education.
Language is grounded in experience. Unlike dictionaries which define words in terms of other words, humans understand many basic words in terms of associations with sensory-motor experiences. People must interact physically with their world to grasp the essence of words like "red," "heavy," and "above." Abstract words are acquired only in relation to more concretely grounded terms. Grounding is thus a fundamental aspect of spoken language, which enables humans to acquire and to use words and sentences in context. We are developing an interactive robot which learns and understands spoken langauge via multisensory grounding and robotic embodiment. The robot is designed with six degrees of freedom and has auditory, visual, proprioceptive, tactile, and balance sensors. This system will serve as a test bed for experiments in acquiring and understanding elementary semantics and syntax of spoken language. Our goals are two-fold. First, we are interested in using computational models to gain insights into how humans process language. By building and testing models with realistic data, we are able to test theories which are difficult to assess using traditional methods based on observation and analysis. Second, we hope to build a new generation of spoken language interfaces with richer semantic representations leading to more intelligent machine behavior.
Notes: Grounded sleep system consists of a cotton sheet with conductive carbon or silver threads woven into it. The threads connect to a wire that leads out the bedroom window or through the wall to a metal rod inserted into the Earth near a healthy plant. Alternatively, it can be connected to the ground terminal of an electrical outlet. Sleeping on this system connects the body to the Earth. A frequent report from people using this system is that sleeping grounded improves the quality of sleep and reduces aches and pains from a variety of causes.
All subjects ate standardized meals at the same time of day, and adhered to the same sleep cycle for 3 days. At 5.40 pm on each day, four of the subjects had conductive grounding patches adhered to their gastrocnemius muscles and the bottoms of their feet. They rested and slept on grounding systems such as that shown in Figure 4. They remained on the grounded sheets except for visits to the bathroom and meals. As controls, four subjects followed the same protocol except that their patches and sheets were not grounded. The following measurements were taken before the exercise and 1, 2, and 3 days thereafter: pain levels, magnetic resonance imaging, spectroscopy, cortisol in serum and saliva, blood and enzyme chemistry, and blood cell counts.7
Pain was monitored with two techniques. The subjective method involved morning and afternoon use of a Visual Analog Scale. In the afternoon, a blood pressure cuff was positioned on the right gastrocnemius and inflated to the point of acute discomfort. The pain was documented in terms of the highest pressures that could be tolerated. The grounded subjects experienced less pain, as revealed with both the analog soreness scale (Figure 5) and by their ability to tolerate a higher pressure from the blood pressure cuff (Figure 6).7
Our working hypothesis features this scenario: mobile electrons from the Earth enter the body and act as natural antioxidants;3 they are semi-conducted through the connective tissue matrix, including through the inflammatory barricade if one is present;23 they neutralize ROS and other oxidants in the repair field; and they protect healthy tissue from damage. The fact that there are fewer circulating neutrophils and lymphocytes in the grounded subjects may be advantageous because of the harmful role these cells are thought to play in prolonging inflammation.24 We also raise the possibility that the inflammatory barricade is actually formed in ungrounded subjects by collateral damage to healthy tissue, as was suggested by Selye in the first and subsequent editions of his book The Stress of Life (Figure 10).25
Notes: (A) After an injury, the ungrounded person (Mr Shoes) will form an inflammatory barricade around the injury site. (B) After an injury, the grounded person (Mr Barefoot) will not form an inflammatory barricade, because reactive oxygen species that could damage nearby healthy tissue (collateral damage) are immediately neutralized by electrons semiconducted from the electron-saturated ground substance via the collagen network.
(a) Supply-Side Equipment. A grounded circuit conductor shall be permitted to ground noncurrent-carrying metal parts of equipment on the supply side of the service disconnecting means, such as meter enclosures, service raceways, etc., and on the supply side of the main disconnecting means of separate buildings and of separately derived systems. (Title 24, Part 3, Section 250-61(a).) (b) Load-Side Equipment. A grounded circuit conductor shall not be used for grounding noncurrent-carrying metal parts of equipment on the load side of the service disconnecting means or on the load side of a separately derived system disconnecting means or the overcurrent devices for a separately derived system not having a main disconnecting means. EXCEPTION: It shall be permissible to ground meter enclosures by connection to the grounded circuit conductor on the load-side of the service disconnect if: a. No service ground-fault protection is installed; and b. All meter enclosures are located adjacent to the service disconnecting means. (Title 24, Part 3, Section 250-61(b) without Exceptions 1 or 2.) NOTE: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code; and Section 18943(c), Health and Safety Code. HISTORY 1. New section filed 3-20-79; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 12). 2. Editorial correction filed 11-2-83 (Register 83, No. 45). 3. Amendment of subsection (b) filed 8-27-86; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 86, No. 37). 4. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (a) filed 8-1-94 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 94, No. 31). Go Back to Article 11 Table of Contents
Our kid-friendly yoga poses, purpose-driven yoga games, mindset meditations and breathing techniques are so engaging that even after one class our students are motivated and able to practice at home. They teach this knowledge to family, friends & teachers as a side effect of being grounded off the mat.
After wearing (and loving) my #groundedponchette for a year, I reimagined this design as a full-sized poncho. Rather than modifying the pattern, I changed the gauge by using worsted weight yarn. Because this pattern is knit from the bottom up, it is entirely flexible. You can knit it in ANY yarn weight and fiber and make it as large or small as you want! I wanted my poncho to cover my elbows and booty, so I kept going until it did just that. Details of my pattern hack are included in the pattern.
The Grounded Theory Review is an interdisciplinary, online academic journal for the advancement of classic grounded theory and scholarship. The Grounded Theory Review adheres to the highest standards of peer review and engages established and emerging scholars from anywhere in the world. While centered in social sciences and the health disciplines, the Grounded Theory Review is open and welcoming to contributions from any academic field.
Are you developing a classic grounded theory? Do you have data that could be resorted and further developed into a new grounded theory? Are you working on a formal theory, or are you reflecting on a methodological issue? We invite you to submit your paper for consideration for the next issue of Grounded Theory Review, which is published in late December and June each year. 041b061a72