Abstract
Deciding on a suitable research methodology is challenging for researchers. In this paper, grounded theory is presented as a systematic and comprehensive qualitative methodology in the emergent field of digital forensics research. This paper applies grounded theory in a digital forensics research project undertaken to study how organisations build and manage digital forensics capabilities. This paper gives a step-by-step guideline to explain the procedures and techniques of using grounded theory in digital forensics research. The paper gives a detailed explanation of how the three grounded theory coding methods (open, axial, and selective coding) can be used in digital forensics research. Grounded theory offers a rich and detailed methodology for theorising while presenting and exploring the How and Why questions at every stage of the research. The method shared in this paper provides a detailed critique, making it a valuable contribution to the discussion of methods of analysis in the field of digital forensics.
Keywords
digital forensics, open coding, axial coding, selective coding, digital forensics capability, research methodology, grounded theory
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Date of Publication
2016
Publisher
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
School
Security Research Institute
RAS ID
23359
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Comments
Almarzooqi, A., Jones, A., & Howley, R. (2016). Applying Grounded Theory Methods to Digital Forensics Research. Annual ADFSL Conference on Digital Forensics, Security and Law. 12.
https://commons.erau.edu/adfsl/2016/tuesday/12/