Grounded in Multiplicity

Abstract

Grounded Theory (GT), as developed by Anselm Strauss and Barney Glaser in the mid-20th century, originated in a research tradition that refused rigid boundaries between qualitative and quantitative methods. This paper argues that Grounded Theory is not only compatible with mixed methods research, but was, in fact, originally conceived as a mixed methods approach. From its roots in the methodologically pluralistic University of Chicago, GT integrated observational, narrative, and statistical data in a recursive methodological loop. Central to this approach is Strauss’s unique treatment of numbers – not as neutral facts, but as representations of social meaning. Using examples from early seminal studies (1950 – 1965), this paper shows how Strauss converted narratives into statistical patterns, then returned to interpret those numbers through rich contextual analysis. The resulting loop enabled the simultaneous exploration of what, where, why, and how social phenomena occur. The paper concludes by linking these classic GT practices with contemporary challenges: digital data integration, hybrid models, and transdisciplinary design. In an era shaped by AI, NLP, and participatory science, GT offers a robust and meaning-centred model for integrated knowledge production that bridges traditional empirical work with emerging digital methodologies.