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Table 2 Coding process

From: How to do a grounded theory study: a worked example of a study of dental practices

Raw data

Initial coding

Focused coding

Theoretical coding

Q. What did you take into account when you decided to buy this new technology?

What did we... we looked at cost, we looked at reliability and we sort of, we compared a few different types, talked to some people that had them.

Q. When you say you talked to some people who were they?

Some dental colleagues. There's a couple of internet sites that we talked to some people... people had tried out some that didn't work very well.

Q. So in terms of materials either preventive materials or restorative materials; what do you take in account when you decide which one to adopt?

Well, that's a good question. I don't know. I suppose we [laughs] look at reliability. I suppose I've been looking at literature involved in it so I quite like my own little research about that, because I don't really trust the research that comes with the product and once again what other dentists are using and what they've been using and they're happy with. I'm finding the internet, some of those internet forums are actually quite good for new products.

Deciding to buy based on cost, reliability

Talking to dental colleagues on internet sites

Comparing their experiences

Looking at literature

Doing my own little research

Not trusting research that comes with commercial products

Talking to other dentists about their experiences

Seeking out evidence

Gathering and comparing peers' evidence to reach a conclusion

The process of making sense of evidence and construction of knowledge