The Legacy of Kathy Charmaz's Scholarship and Mentorship: Enacting Her Constructivist Principles Through Critically Reflexive Grounded Theory Practice

Abstract

In this chapter honouring Professor Kathy Charmaz, her scholarship and her mentorship, I explore the impact of her work on my thinking and research. Specifically, I focus on the translation of her constructivist principles into my, and others', grounded theory methodological practice. Following the introduction, the chapter commences with a reflection upon coming across constructivist grounded theory (CGT) for the first time almost 20 years ago, and my excitement at finding a methodology that so well aligned with my social justice-oriented research. Already ‘seduced’ by (classical) grounded theory, I had been uncomfortable and wrestling with its problematic philosophical underpinnings, and Kathy's work provided an intriguing solution. This section also briefly reviews CGT's main features, including Kathy's central emphasis on critical reflexivity, interpretation and context, the researcher–participant relationship and the co-construction of knowledge with participants, whilst maintaining a focus on conceptual development. In Section Three, I examine the ‘translation’ of Kathy's constructivist principles into my and others' reflexive grounded theory methodological practice, focusing particularly on issues of researcher positionality/ies and participant involvement. I also consider the ways in which I am further extending these ideas in my ongoing CGT research, including in relation to researcher self-disclosure. In the concluding section, I observe that Kathy's scholarship not only put grounded theory on a new epistemological basis but also established constructivist GT's axiological foundation. I end with a reflection upon the legacy of her ‘curiosity and wonder’ as a scholar of the social world, her legendary mentorship and her generosity of spirit.

Citation

Keane, E. (2022), "The Legacy of Kathy Charmaz's Scholarship and Mentorship: Enacting Her Constructivist Principles Through Critically Reflexive Grounded Theory Practice", Bryant, A. and Clarke, A.E. (Ed.) Festschrift in Honour of Kathy Charmaz (Studies in Symbolic Interaction, Vol. 56), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 133-148. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0163-239620220000056013