Editing Repertory grid (section)

== Analysis of results ==

A single grid can be analysed for both content (eyeball inspection) and structure ([[cluster analysis]], [[principal component analysis]], and a variety of structural [[Index (statistics)|indices]] relating to the complexity and range of the ratings being the chief techniques used). Sets of grids are dealt with using one or other of a variety of [[content analysis]] techniques. A range of associated techniques can be used to provide precise, operationally defined expressions of an interviewee's constructs, or a detailed expression of the interviewee's personal values, and all of these techniques are used in a collaborative way. The repertory grid is emphatically not a standardized "[[psychological test]]"; it is an exercise in the mutual negotiation of a person's meanings.

The repertory grid has found favour among both academics and practitioners in a great variety of fields because it provides a way of describing people's construct systems (loosely, understanding people's perceptions) without prejudging the terms of reference—a kind of personalized [[grounded theory]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=McQualter |first=J. W. |date=February 1986 |title=Becoming a mathematics teacher: the use of personal construct theory |journal=[[Educational Studies in Mathematics]] |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=1–14 |doi=10.1007/BF00302375 |jstor=3482188 |s2cid=144232529 |quote=The use of PCT procedures to investigate teacher practical knowledge offers to provide material for pedagogy of mathematics and enables us in mathematics education to develop a "grounded theory" of mathematics pedagogy (Glaser and Strauss, 1967).}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hunter |first1=M. Gordon |last2=Beck |first2=John E. |date=March 2000 |title=Using repertory grids to conduct cross-cultural information systems research |journal=[[Information Systems Research]] |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=93–101 |doi=10.1287/isre.11.1.93.11786 |jstor=23015975 |quote=The grounded theory technique presented in this article is based on Kelly's Repertory Grid (RepGrid), which concentrates on "laddering," or the further elaboration of elicited constructs, to obtain detailed research participant comments about an aspect within the domain of discourse. The technique provides structure to a "one-to-one" interview. But, at the same time, RepGrids allow sufficient flexibility for the research participants to be able to express their own interpretation about a particular topic. [...] the methodology used is based on Grounded Theory (Glaser and Strauss 1967), which suggests that categories and their properties should emerge from the data, rather than being influenced by the a priori adoption of a theoretical framework. That is, the RepGrid technique grounds the data within the culture of the research participant.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Edwards |first1=Helen M. |last2=McDonald |first2=Sharon |last3=Young |first3=S. Michelle |date=April 2009 |title=The repertory grid technique: its place in empirical software engineering research |journal=[[Information and Software Technology]] |volume=51 |issue=4 |pages=785–798 |doi=10.1016/j.infsof.2008.08.008 |quote=The repertory grid technique is a phenomenological approach which sits more with grounded theory [Glaser & Strauss, 1967] and interpretive research rather than with positivist, hypothesis-proving, approaches. The focus is on understanding, before developing theories that can be subsequently proved (or disproved).}}</ref>

Unlike a conventional [[Rating scale|rating-scale]] questionnaire, it is not the investigator but the interviewee who provides the constructs on which a topic is rated. Market researchers, trainers, teachers, guidance counsellors, new product developers, sports scientists, and knowledge capture specialists are among the users who find the technique (originally developed for use in clinical psychology) helpful.<ref>For example: {{cite book |last1=Denicolo |first1=Pam |last2=Long |first2=Trevor |last3=Bradley-Cole |first3=Kim |date=2016 |chapter=How others have used PCP: sample research cases |title=Constructivist approaches and research methods: a practical guide to exploring personal meanings |location=London; Los Angeles |publisher=[[SAGE Publications]] |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=MMvBDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA155 155–199] |isbn=9781473930292 |oclc=958777985}}</ref>