THE APPLICATION OF THE METHODOLOGY OF THE GROUNDED THEORY IN SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE PHENOMENON OF RELIGION AND RELIGIOSITY

This article aims at pointing out advantages of the methodology of the grounded theory in relation to previous quantitative socio-religious study of the phenomenon of religion and religiosity. Namely, after carrying out the quality-quantity study of Religiosity of Inhabitants of the City of Vukovar during the War of Independence 2010-2014) and the analysis of socio-religious literature that originated in Croatia in the last two decades, it has been established that an inadequate theoretical-methodological frame for study of the phenomena of religion and religiosity carried out in some specific context (crisis war situation) and/or on specific population (civilians, soldiers, prisoners) was regularly used. Such theoretical-methodological frame, in which the theory of secularisation is applied, five-dimensional model and quantitative research methods, is usually inadequate for an integral study of extra-ritual personal religiosity and the relationship between the phenomenon of religiosity and the specific context within which the study is carried out. Therefore, the aim of this article is to point out the potential of the methodology of the grounded theory within the context of qualitative socio-religious study through which one can conduct a more integral study of the phenomena of religion and religiosity in those conditions where it is not possible, or it is hard, to apply the existing theoretical framework and quantitative research methods. Conclusions that have been reached on the basis of the independently conducted study of Religiosity of Inhabitants of the City of Vukovar during the War of Independence demonstrate that the methodology of the grounded theory, paired with the application of qualitative method of research, offers a possibility for a more integral study of extra-ritual personal religiosity. Primarily, it offers a greater possibility of understanding the dimension of personal religious experience and the dimension of religious practice on individual, extra-ritual level, as well as a better insight into the relationship between the phenomenon of religiosity and the specific context within which the study is conducted.