This paper compares and contrasts the role of theory across the five major qualitative research approaches: ethnography, case study, narrative inquiry, phenomenology, and grounded theory. While all five approaches engage with theory to some degree, they differ significantly in how explicitly theory shapes research design, data collection, and interpretation. The paper argues that purely "theory-less" qualitative research does not exist, but that theory's influence ranges from implicit assumptions embedded in narrative inquiry to the explicitly inductive theory-building central to grounded theory. The discussion is grounded in the author's own research project on human trafficking, for which a grounded theory approach was selected.
Although all five major approaches to qualitative research engage with theory to some degree, they do not value or employ theory equally. The extent to which theory shapes research design, data collection, and interpretation varies considerably across ethnography, case study, narrative inquiry, phenomenology, and grounded theory. Understanding these differences is essential for selecting an appropriate methodology for any given research question.
Some cultural theory is usually demonstrated within an ethnography, expressed through one of several approaches: a comparative framework, an attempt to understand the culture on its own terms, a theory that seeks to understand multiple layers of meaning within the culture in a symbolic fashion, or even a universalizing construct such as feminist or Marxist theory. The extent to which this theoretical approach is emphasized depends upon the anthropologist conducting the study. Some studies may focus primarily upon observations and document unique aspects of a foreign culture, while others might largely subordinate descriptive details to an exploration of the theoretical lens the anthropologist has chosen to explain participants' actions.
In general, a good ethnography will not subsume hard data and actually observed experiences to an unyielding and inflexible theory. The theory must be modified to fit the data — not the reverse — and exceptions must be noted. The aim of the approach is to use "multiple methodologies to arrive at a theoretically comprehensive understanding of a group or culture," but theory does not purport to explain everything about the culture, given that ethnography is admittedly conducted from an etic, or outsider's, point of view (Ethnography, 2013, Writing Guides).
A case study may also deploy theoretical components. For example, a psychological case study may be grounded in the principles of a particular approach, such as psychodynamic Freudian theory or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). However, the case study approach requires both an explication of the underlying theory and close attention to the idiosyncratic nature of the individual case. The theory may be introduced at the beginning of the case study, but it cannot be applied as a formula — otherwise, the value of an individualized approach is lost. "The case study final report should provide a rich (i.e., vivid and detailed) and holistic (i.e., describes the whole and its parts) description of the case and its context" (Johnson, n.d.).
The focus is on the richness of individual data, not on the theory — although it could be argued that a specific case would often not be selected were it not for a preexisting theoretical framework. For example, a case study of a depressed patient presupposes the acceptance of some underlying psychological framework, given that the very definition of "depression" functions as a psychological construct. At the same time, the case can be viewed through both psychological and biological lenses, demonstrating the flexibility that the case study approach affords.
"Implicit theory within ostensibly theory-free storytelling"
"Theory's role in understanding lived phenomena"
"Inductive theory-building applied to trafficking research"
Even more so than in other formats, there is an attempt to be deliberate and selective regarding the phenomenon under consideration. Since the goal is to understand how women become victims of human trafficking and which sociological factors give rise to this problem, the research is oriented toward drawing conclusions with wide-ranging implications beyond the study itself. The aim is for the data to be comparable with other studies, not merely to provide insight into the specific lives of the women being studied.
All of these examples indicate that "theory-less" qualitative research does not exist. There is always some form of theory driving the research and shaping the selection of subjects and approaches. Theoretical analysis in qualitative study focuses on results, rather than on constructing a specific research hypothesis derived from a predetermined theory, as is typical in quantitative studies. However, the degree to which theory shapes the qualitative research — or is instead left implicit and unexamined — clearly varies from approach to approach. For the research project described here, the most theoretically oriented of all qualitative methods was selected, reflecting the goal of producing findings with broad, transferable implications.
Ethnography. (2013). Writing Guides. Retrieved from
Grounded theory. (2013). Writing Guides. Retrieved from
Johnson. (n.d.). Chapter 12. Retrieved from http://www.southalabama.edu/coe/bset/johnson/lectures/lec12.htm
Narrative inquiry. (2013). Writing Guides. Retrieved from
Phenomenology. (2013). Writing Guides. Retrieved from
You’re 56% through this paper. Sign up to read the remaining 3 sections.
Sign Up Now — Instant Access Already a member? Log inAlways verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.