ABSTRACT
In this chapter the author tries to work it out as best he can, looking first at Blumer's own description of naturalistic method, and then at some other accounts of the logic of qualitative analysis that may be taken as developments of it. Naturalistic research is designed to provide precisely what variable analysis fails to offer. Blumer identifies two phases of naturalistic research which he calls 'exploration' and 'inspection'. Blumer argues that scientific analysis requires two things: 'clear, discriminating analytical elements and the isolation of relations between these elements'. Inspection is designed to achieve both these goals, though he gives particular attention to the role of inspection in clarifying concepts. In comparison with analytic induction, grounded theorizing involves more emphasis on the generation and development of theory than on its testing. Grounded theorizing also seems to differ from analytic induction in its goals.
