Doing qualitative comparative research on teaching: Challenges and benefits of working with grounded theory

Abstract

The last decades have seen the completion of an increasing number of qualitative comparative research projects on teaching. Challenges and benefits which might arise from a qualitative international comparative research design have been considered. However, very little has been published on challenges and benefits which may arise from using grounded theory in international comparative research projects. This article explores some of these challenges and benefits, focusing on two methodological aspects: the emergent process of developing a grounded theory and analysing data in a foreign language. In order to illustrate the argument, an international comparative PhD project is used. The project is centred on how teachers see themselves with regards to accountability reforms in England and Germany.