The Application of the Methodology of the Grounded Theory in Sociological Study of the Phenomenon of Religion and Religiosity

U ovom se radu želi ukazati na prednosti koje metodologija utemeljene teorije ima u odnosu na dosadašnja kvantitativna socioreligijska istraživanja fenomena religije i religioznosti. Naime, nakon provođenja kvalitativno-kvantitativnog istraživanja Religioznost stanovnika grada Vukovara tijekom Domovinskog rata (2010. – 2014.) te analize socioreligijske literature nastale u Hrvatskoj u posljednjim dvama desetljećima, utvrđeno je kako je uobičajeno primjenjivan teorijsko-metodološki okvir nedostatan za istraživanja fenomena religije i religioznosti koja se provode u određenom specifičnom kontekstu (krizna ratna situacija) i/ili nad specifičnom populacijom (civili, branitelji, zatočenici). Takav teorijsko-metodološki okvir, u kojem se primjenjuju teorija sekularizacije, petodimenzionalni model te kvantitativne istraživačke metode, najčešće je nedostatan za cjelovito istraživanje izvanobredne osobne religioznosti te suodnosa fenomena religioznosti i specifičnog konteksta u okviru kojega se provodi istraživanje. Stoga je cilj ovoga rada ukazati na potencijal metodologije utemeljene teorije u okviru kvalitativnih socioreligijskih istraživanja pomoću kojih je moguće sveobuhvatnije istražiti fenomen religije i religioznosti u uvjetima u kojima nije moguće, ili je teško, primijeniti postojeće teorijske okvire i kvantitativne istraživačke metode. Zaključci do kojih se došlo na temelju samostalno provedenog istraživanja Religioznost stanovnika grada Vukovara tijekom Domovinskog rata pokazuju kako metodologija utemeljene teorije, uz primjenu kvalitativnih metoda istraživanja, nudi mogućnost za cjelovitije istraživanje izvanobredne osobne religioznosti. Prije svega nudi veću mogućnost razumijevanja dimenzije osobnoga religioznog iskustva i dimenzije religijske prakse na individualnoj, izvanobrednoj razini, ali i bolju istraženost suodnosa fenomena religioznosti i specifičnog konteksta u okviru kojega se provodi istraživanje.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