A Historical and Comparative Note on the Relationship Between Analytic Induction and Grounded Theorising

Analytic induction (AI) and grounded theorising (GT) have long been influential models for conceptualising and guiding particular kinds of qualitative research. However, the relationship between them, in terms of both historical development and conceptual structure, is not always clearly understood. As I show in this article, there are obstacles to understanding these matters. Alfred LINDESMITH, one of the major architects and champions of AI, and Anselm STRAUSS, coinventor of GT, were students of Herbert BLUMER at the same time, and collaborated on various projects. However, only STRAUSS, with Barney GLASER, provided a detailed comparison between the two approaches. Moreover, even this leaves us with some uncertainties about the precise nature of the similarities and differences, and the reasons for these. The relationship of AI and GT to BLUMERʹs methodological thinking is even more obscure.