Introducing empirically grounded types into the study of school choice

I propose that the grounded types analytical method (GTAM) is a systematic and useful means of typology construction for qualitative studies. GTAM arose within European social sciences in response to a need to schematize qualitative typology and to explicate qualitative types more precisely. GTAM is applicable to a variety of qualitative situations. I illustrate in this paper GTAM's applicability through my study of school choice in the Paris suburbs. I argue then for its inclusion in the qualitative study of U.S. primary and secondary school choice because it is a credible form of analysis that would provide a new lens for viewing how behaviours and beliefs enter into choices.