Grounded theory modeling based on multisource evidence fusion

Grounded theory, a mainstream qualitative research method in the social sciences, is challenged by ambiguity in the theory construction phase. Drawing on the Dempster–Shafer theory, this study establishes a new method: grounded theory modeling with multisource evidence fusion (MEF-GT). By incorporating the objectivity and precision of quantitative analysis into the qualitative analysis of grounded theory, MEF-GT enhances the trustworthiness and reliability of the constructed theory. In MEF-GT, after completing the coding phase, relationship functions are constructed between initial concepts based on the evidence extracted from the data. By assigning weights to each piece of evidence and assessing the reliability of their sources, relationships are fused layer by layer following the generalized combination rule until a quantified relationship function between categories is formed. In addition, more intuitive and expressive theoretical frameworks can be constructed based on category portfolios with different relational strengths. Finally, we demonstrate the practicality and effectiveness of the method using a case study of the ecological development practices of marine ranching enterprises.