The presentation reflects on the speaker’s choice to use grounded theory in her doctoral research. Drawing on narrative interviews with people from Syria about their experiences with state systems in Germany and Sweden, it highlights the challenges and benefits of grounded theory as a methodology. While the process can be time-consuming and at times disorienting, grounded theory supports a flexible, data-driven approach that centers participants’ own priorities and perspectives. It enables the development of theoretical frameworks grounded in lived experience rather than imposed categories. The presentation also considers how grounded theory fosters ethical reflexivity, and argues that this approach offers valuable tools for making sense of oral histories in contexts shaped by violence, displacement and structural inequalities.
Thu 12 Jun 2025
