ERIC Number: EJ978740
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
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ISSN: ISSN-1052-0147
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Examining the Potential of Combining the Methods of Grounded Theory and Narrative Inquiry: A Comparative Analysis
Lal, Shalini; Suto, Melinda; Ungar, Michael
Qualitative Report, v17 Article 41 2012
Increasingly, qualitative researchers are combining methods, processes, and principles from two or more methodologies over the course of a research study. Critics charge that researchers adopting combined approaches place too little attention on the historical, epistemological, and theoretical aspects of the research design. Rather than discounting eclecticism in qualitative research, we prefer to place it on a continuum of integration whereby at the ideal end of the spectrum, the researcher demonstrates thorough knowledge of the approaches being drawn from and a thoughtful consideration of the rationale for combining methods. However, there is limited reflection in the literature on the combination of methods from specific methodological approaches. To address this gap we examine the extent to which the methods from two distinct qualitative methodologies, grounded theory and narrative inquiry might complement each other within a qualitative study using a framework that encompasses 10 key methodological features of research design.
Descriptors: Grounded Theory, Personal Narratives, Inquiry, Research Methodology, Comparative Analysis, Qualitative Research, Mixed Methods Research, Research Design, Interpersonal Relationship, Researchers, Sampling, Data Collection, Data Analysis, Criteria
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
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Language: English
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