Journal Article

Examining the potential of combining the methods of grounded theory and narrative inquiry: a comparative analysis

Lal, Shalini, Ungar, Michael, Suto, Melinda

2012

Overview

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. Key Words: Grounded Theory, Combined Methodological Approaches, Narrative Inquiry, Mixed Methods, Qualitative, Multiple Methods.

• Publisher: Nova Southeastern University, Inc,The Qualitative Report,Nova Southeastern University
• Subject: Comparative Analysis / Constructivism (Learning) / Criteria / Data Analysis / Data Collection / Epistemology / Ethnography / Focus Groups / Grounded Theory / Inquiry / Interpersonal Relationship / Interviews / Methodological approaches / Methods / Mixed Methods Research / Narratives / Participant Observation / Phenomenology / Qualitative Research / Research Design / Research Methodology / Researchers / Sampling / Studies / Theory / Traditions