What method of data analysis is considered most suitable for ethnography and participant observation?

Grounded theory is particularly suitable for ethnography and participant observation because it allows researchers to develop theories rooted in the data collected during their immersive study. This qualitative methodology emphasizes the discovery of patterns and themes directly from participants' experiences, which aligns well with the exploratory nature of ethnographic research.

In ethnography, researchers often engage deeply with the community or group they are studying, gathering detailed observations and narratives. Grounded theory facilitates the iterative process of coding and analyzing this qualitative data, where concepts emerge naturally rather than being imposed from pre-existing theories or frameworks. Therefore, this approach is highly adaptable and can lead to rich theoretical insights that are contextually grounded in the participants' realities.

Other methods mentioned, such as descriptive statistics or regression analysis, are primarily quantitative and would not capture the nuanced, qualitative aspects of human behavior and culture that are central to ethnographic studies. Case study analysis could also be relevant but usually focuses on in-depth examination of a single case rather than generating broad theoretical insights that grounded theory promotes.