GROUNDED THEORY AND INDUCTIVE ETHNOGRAPHY: A SENSIBLE MERGING OR A FAILED ENCOUNTER?

In the last decade the methodology of social research has been experiencing rapid growth. In this process, an important place has increasingly been taken by qualitative research methods which have also been foregrounded in fields that a couple of decades ago were exclusively reserved for quantitative research approaches. In the last few years attempts at merging and combining research approaches have been emerging within triangula- tion, along with the existence of more ambitious attempts at creating the so-called reflexive methodology. Based on this premise, this paper will address two methods: grounded the- ory (hereinafter GT) and inductive ethnography, with each of them employing its own specific way of solving quanda- ries faced by researchers who use qualitative methods in their work. The aim of this paper is to examine the poten- tial of the research complementarity of GT and inductive ethnography in the context of the merging and combining of research approaches. First, we will look for answers by reflexively examining the properties of both approaches' research techniques which in the concluding part of the paper will end by identifying the methodological context enabling the coherent use of the two research approaches. Introduction - Methodological benefits of merging grounded theory and inductive etnography research approaches In the last decade the methodology of social research has been experi- encing rapid growth. This is shown in both empirical research, with find- ings of cognitive sciences gaining ground, and in the epistemology of social sciences. In this process, an important place has increasingly been taken