An emic approach (sometimes referre

An emic approach (sometimes referred to as “insider,” “inductive,” or “bottom-up”) takes as its starting point the perspectives and words of research participants.From an anthropological perspective, “Emic constructs are accounts, descriptions, and analyses expressed in terms of the conceptual schemes and categories regarded as meaningful and appropriate by the native members of the culture whose beliefs and behaviors are being studied” . In taking an emic approach, a researcher tries to put aside prior theories and assumptions in order to let the participants and data “speak” to them and to allow themes, patterns, and concepts to emerge. This approach is at the core of Grounded Theory, and is often used when researching topics that have not yet been heavily theorized. Some of its strength lies in its appreciation of the particularity of the context being studied, in its respect for local viewpoints, and its potential to uncover unexpected findings.