Which research method aims to develop a "unified theoretical explanation" by analyzing data collected directly from participants who have undergone the process being studied?

The research method that aims to develop a "unified theoretical explanation" by analyzing data collected directly from participants who have undergone the process being studied is called Grounded Theory.

Here are the steps involved in Grounded Theory:

1. Data Collection: This is the first step in Grounded Theory. Researchers collect data through various methods such as interviews, observations, and document analysis. The data collected is raw and unstructured.

2. Open Coding: In this step, researchers read through the data collected and begin to label, or 'code', the data. This involves breaking down the data into distinct concepts or ideas.

3. Axial Coding: After open coding, researchers begin to look for relationships between the codes identified in the previous step. This process is known as axial coding.

4. Selective Coding: In this step, researchers identify a 'core' category that all other categories relate to. This core category becomes the central phenomenon that the theory is built around.

5. Theory Development: The final step in Grounded Theory is the development of the theory itself. This involves integrating and refining the categories to form a theoretical explanation of the phenomenon being studied.

The aim of Grounded Theory is to generate a theory that is 'grounded' in the data collected from participants who have experienced the phenomenon being studied.