Description

Adapting and combining constructivist grounded theory and discourse analysis: A practical guide for research

Lauren Johnson

Faculty of Education, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC, Australia

Abstract

This paper provides a practical guide for researchers in adapting and combining two complementary approaches to research design. By detailing and justifying the ways in which one research conducted a qualitative examination of a political and contentious educational practice in Australia – standardised literacy testing – this paper assists others reach informed decisions in the stages of their research work. As argued, such political research warrants theoretically sympathetic, methodologically appropriate and analytically conducive design and execution, which aids both research processes and educational practice. The procedures followed in utilising constructivist grounded theory (Charmaz, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006; Charmaz & Mitchell, 2002) and discourse analysis (Carabine, 2001; Fairclough, 2001; Gee, 1999, 2005, 2011; Taylor, 2001a, 2001b) approaches are explained with examples from a research project. This is intended to address a current lack of accessible, clear analysis explanations regarding the use of these complementary approaches to qualitative research.

Keywords: analysis, constructivist grounded theory, discourse analysis, method, methodology, research design