The Importance of Ethnographic Observation in Grounded Theory Research
Even though observational data have contributed to grounded theory research since the method's inception, it is interview data that is most often analyzed. In this article we argue for the greater inclusion of ethnographic observational data in grounded theory research, as this practice offers...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | deu |
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FQS
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Forum: Qualitative Social Research |
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| Online Access: | https://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/3840 |
| _version_ | 1818006747895300096 |
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| author | Jarrah FitzGerald Jane Mills |
| author_facet | Jarrah FitzGerald Jane Mills |
| author_sort | Jarrah FitzGerald |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Even though observational data have contributed to grounded theory research since the method's inception, it is interview data that is most often analyzed. In this article we argue for the greater inclusion of ethnographic observational data in grounded theory research, as this practice offers several benefits. By witnessing and experiencing for oneself the various social processes experienced by and impacting on participants, ethnographic observational data represent both a unique source of data and a way to enhance one's theoretical sensitivity. Additional benefits relate to sampling and recruitment, the development of interview guides, coding, and analysis. As such, conducting ethnographic observations supports grounded theory methods and can enhance the use of interview data to improve the quality of final theory. The writing of observational field notes overlays with traditional grounded theory memoing, compounding the analytical benefits to researchers, while providing an audit trail of the research process, and supporting reflexive practice.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T05:06:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8b1cfe26478c4997b0dde5a51e56fc94 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1438-5627 |
| language | deu |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T05:06:39Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | FQS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forum: Qualitative Social Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b1cfe26478c4997b0dde5a51e56fc942022-12-22T02:10:41ZdeuFQSForum: Qualitative Social Research1438-56272022-05-0123210.17169/fqs-22.2.3840The Importance of Ethnographic Observation in Grounded Theory ResearchJarrah FitzGerald0Jane Mills1La Trobe UniversityLa Trobe University Even though observational data have contributed to grounded theory research since the method's inception, it is interview data that is most often analyzed. In this article we argue for the greater inclusion of ethnographic observational data in grounded theory research, as this practice offers several benefits. By witnessing and experiencing for oneself the various social processes experienced by and impacting on participants, ethnographic observational data represent both a unique source of data and a way to enhance one's theoretical sensitivity. Additional benefits relate to sampling and recruitment, the development of interview guides, coding, and analysis. As such, conducting ethnographic observations supports grounded theory methods and can enhance the use of interview data to improve the quality of final theory. The writing of observational field notes overlays with traditional grounded theory memoing, compounding the analytical benefits to researchers, while providing an audit trail of the research process, and supporting reflexive practice. https://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/3840grounded theory researchethnographyqualitative researchobservationresearch designreflexivity |
| spellingShingle | Jarrah FitzGerald Jane Mills The Importance of Ethnographic Observation in Grounded Theory Research Forum: Qualitative Social Research grounded theory research ethnography qualitative research observation research design reflexivity |
| title | The Importance of Ethnographic Observation in Grounded Theory Research |
| title_full | The Importance of Ethnographic Observation in Grounded Theory Research |
| title_fullStr | The Importance of Ethnographic Observation in Grounded Theory Research |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Importance of Ethnographic Observation in Grounded Theory Research |
| title_short | The Importance of Ethnographic Observation in Grounded Theory Research |
| title_sort | importance of ethnographic observation in grounded theory research |
| topic | grounded theory research ethnography qualitative research observation research design reflexivity |
| url | https://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/3840 |
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