A grounded pattern language: testing a methodology for exploring cohousing residents' involvement in shared outdoor spaces

This paper presents a 'grounded pattern language' developed from a study on cohousing residents' participation in shared landscapes. Pattern languages are recognised in the fields of architecture and urban design as useful tools for documenting commonplace problem-solving ideas in an easy-to-understand format. Since their initiation by Christopher Alexander in 1977, researchers across a wide range of disciplines have adopted the use of pattern languages in research as a way of engaging participants and creating succinct, implementable outputs. However, further methodological refinement for developing a pattern language is required to address criticisms around rigour and transparency. By combining previously adopted pattern language development stages with those of grounded theory, this paper outlines a grounded pattern methodology and its application in the study of cohousing residents' participation in shared landscapes. The paper discusses the benefits and limitations of the grounded pattern methodology as a participatory research, design and theory building tool observed during its initial testing as a card game.

Automated summary

This paper presents a 'grounded pattern language' developed from a study on cohousing residents' participation in shared landscapes. By combining previously adopted pattern language development stages with those of grounded theory, this paper outlines a grounded pattern methodology and its application in the study of cohousing residents' participation in shared landscapes. The paper discusses the benefits and limitations of the grounded pattern methodology observed during its initial testing as a card game.