Advanced Qualitative Analyses for Theorizing: Balancing Deep Data Engagement With Imaginative Theorizing

Qualitative research crucially contributes to knowledge generation via theory development, refinement, and refutation. A plethora of resources exist facilitating raw data engagement and immersion strategies. Yet, advanced analytic techniques for deriving theoretical insight are scantly understood and documented in the methods literature. The current paper creates a procedural framework for advancing theoretical insight via the use of qualitative analytic techniques by collating insights from the groundbreaking work of Klag and Langley , Langley , Locke et al. , and Locke —which builds heavily on Peirce's work on abduction and Weick's work on disciplined imagination. We construct this framework around three core processes: challenging, seeing, and articulating. We provide three practical examples from our own research projects to demonstrate how these core processes are supported by advanced analytic techniques. We discuss the impact of different theorizing goals, different epistemological grounding, future applications, and further methodological development.