Applying Inter-Rater Reliability and Agreement in collaborative Grounded Theory studies in software engineering

•Qualitative research on empirical SE that uses Grounded Theory (GT) is increasing.•Collaborative GT enables Inter-Rater Reliability (IRR) and Agreement (IRA).•We define a process to systematically apply IRR/IRA in GT studies, when appropriate.•This ensures consensus, improving the trustworthiness, rigor, and transparency.•And promoting the communicability, reflexivity, and replicability of the research.