1) Neff argues that “we as compositionists have not studied our research methods as social practices in themselves. Our methodologies too often remain traditional, patriarchal, and exclusionary” (133). How does grounded theory help to foster a more “democratic” spirit in the research process?
2) One thing that seems to be of great importance to grounded theory is showing how a bunch of variables can interact in complex ways. For this reason, grounded theory seems to be a highly appropriate method for researching human interactions. What other research situations might it be particularly well-suited for? For example, would grounded theory be appropriate for textual analyses or other research situations where human interaction is not at the core of the situation, or when the human interaction has perhaps already taken place?
3) What’s the difference, if any, between grounded theory and ethnography? Is grounded theory a type of ethnographic research?
Note: this website offers a blissfully easy-to-understand sketch of the grounded theory process: http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/arp/grounded.html.
