Haas on grounded theory
Almost 10 years, working on modifying grounded theory to make it useful in writing studies—to create a grounded theory approach (GTA).

Iterative systematic analysis results in grounded theory, a theory tied to the data.

Three dilemmas for writing researcher:
1. Viewpoint dilemma: If you want to see something big, you have to start someplace particular. One is always someplace in particular with GTA.

2. Data dilemma: “What do I do with all this data?” With GTA, you are writing from the very beginning. Data collection, analysis, and writing are iterative from the beginning.

3. Theory dilemma: “What if my data don’t match my theory?” With GTA, there is no imposition of a theory onto the data. GT theorist brackets theory by focusing on data (constant comparison of small conceptual structures with other small conceptual structures).

GTA works for writing studies because:

1. Works in highly complex sites. Most literacy sites now are complex.

2. Open to different kinds of data sources.

3. GTA helps her overcome the shortcomings of narrative. Narratives suck you in; they can be tyrannical. GTA helps Haas move past that.

If you are going to use GTA, start with Glazer and Strauss (1967), The Discovery of Grounded Theory. Then Strauss’s 1987, Qualitative Analysis for Social Scientists.

Haas and partner now trying to consider two current movements in of GT:

1. “pushing out of reality” – moving beyond current theoretical spaces, pushing space between stitches in the sweater, open coding and dimensionalizing, “making something strange” (taking them out of their natural habitat).

2. “pulling in” – weaving together, “axial coding” and “integration and theory building.”

Theoretical sampling, saturation, and sensitivity.