ABSTRACT
The chapter will concentrate on grounded theory methodology (GTM) from the point of view of the contemplative social sciences (CSS). It will analyze how the mind engages in constructing a concept, and the role of the consciousness of the mind’s work in creating a theory that is based on analyzing empirical data. We will review the research and analytical methods that can be inspirations for contemplative grounded theory: constructivist grounded theory, classic grounded theory, transformational grounded theory, sociological introspection, holistic ethnography, mindful inquiry and transformational phenomenology, and contemplative qualitative inquiry.
In many classical books from grounded theory, we can find some seeds of contemplative thinking, and we can reconstruct them. We will develop the inspirations more and perhaps change the sense of grounded theory after the contemplative turn. We will show the possibilities of using contemplative grounded theory in research and also show its limitations. Some empirical examples from research on experiencing the body in hatha yoga practice, and analysis will be given to show how contemplation could be used in grounded theory.
