Constructivist Grounded Theory

A qualitative research methodology developed by Kathy Charmaz that adapts classic grounded theory by acknowledging that the researcher's theoretical commitments and lived experience shape the categories that emerge from the data. Rather than claiming a neutral "view from nowhere," constructivist grounded theory treats analysis as co-constructed between researcher and participants, using iterative coding (open, focused, theoretical) and memoing to build theory grounded in the data while being transparent about positionality. It is widely used in accessibility research to theorise disabled people's experiences without imposing medical or deficit frames.