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Methods for Narrative Analysis

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1. Produce a narrative form from raw data

  • The raw data tend to be interview transcriptions, but can also be the result of field notes compiled during participant observation or from other forms of data collection that produce narratives.[1]
  • Narrative forms are produced by constructing a coherent story from the data and looking at the data from the perspective of your research question[2]

2. Organize data

  • The goal of organizing data is to hone in on the research question and separate irrelevant or redundant information from that which will be eventually analyzed, sometimes referred to as "narrative smoothing".[3]
  • Some approaches to organizing data are as follows:
(When choosing a method of organization, one should choose the approach best suited to the research question and the goal of the project. For instance, Gee's method of organization would be best if studying the role language plays in narrative construction whereas Labov's method would more ideal for examining a certain event and it's effect on an individual's experiences.)[4] [5]
  • Labov's: Thematic organization [6] or Synchronic Organization.
This method is considered useful for understanding major events in the narrative and the effect those events have on the individual constructing the narrative.[7] The approach utilizes an "evaluation model" that organizes the data into an abstract (What was this about?), an orientation (Who? What? When? Where?), a complication (Then what happened?), an evaluation (So what?), a result (What finally happened?), and a coda (the finished narrative)[8] . Said narrative elements may not occur in an constant order, multiple or reoccurring elements may exist within a single narrative [9].
  • Polkinghorne's: Chronological Organization or Diachronic Organization
also related to the sociology of stories approach that focuses on the contexts in which narratives are constructed. This approach attends to the "embodied nature" of the person telling the narrative, the context from which the narrative is created, the relationships between the narrative teller and others within the narrative, historical continuity, and the chronological organization of events.[10] A story with a clear beginning, middle, and end is constructed from the narrative data. Polkinghorne makes the distinction between narrative analysis and analysis of narratives.[11] Narrative analysis utilizes "narrative reasoning" by shaping data into stories whereas analysis of narratives utilizes paradigmatic reasonsing and derrives information from stories[12]
  • Bruner's functional approach focuses on what functions narratives serve for different individuals. In these narratives the individuals apply meanings from their surroundings.[13]
  • Gee's approach of structural analysis focuses on the ways in which the narrative is conveyed by the speaker with particular emphasis given to the interaction between speaker and listener.[14] In this form of analysis the language that the speaker uses, the pauses in speech, discourse markers, and other similar structural aspects of speech are the focus.
  • There are a multitude of ways of organizing narrative data that fall under narrative analysis, different types of research questions lend themselves to different approaches.[15] Regardless of the approach, qualitative researchers organize their data into groups based on various common traits.[16]

3. Interpret data

  • There are various approaches to interpreting data, it is important to acknowledge the fact that there is no single interpretive truth. [17]
  • Some paradigms/theories that can be used to interpret data:
Paradigm/Theory Criteria Form of Theory Type of Narration
Positivist/postpositivist Internal, external validity Logical-deductive grounded Scientific report
Constructivist Trustworthiness, credibility, transferability, confirmability Substantive Interpretive case studies, ethnographic fiction
Feminist Afrocentric, lived experience, dialouge, caring, accountability, race, class, gender, reflexivity, praxis, emotion, concrete grounding Critical, standpoint Essays, stories, experimental writing
Ethnic Afrocentric, lived experience, dialogue, caring, accountability, race, class, gender Standpoint, critical, historical Essays, fables, dramas
Marxism Emancipatory theory, falsifiability dialogical, race, class, gender Critical, historical, economic Historical, economic, sociocultural analyses
Cultural studies Cultural practices, praxis, social texts, subjectivities Social criticism Cultural theory as criticism
Queer theory Reflextivity, deconstruction Social criticism, historical analysis Theory as criticism, autobiography

[18]

  • While interpreting qualitative data, researcher should look for patterns, themes, and regularities as well as contrasts, paradoxes, and irregularities. [19]
  • The finished product often results in a complete and understandable story/narrative from which the researcher reads into in order to construct a relationship between the narrative and the research question.
(The research question may have to change at this stage if the data does not offer insight to the inquiry.)
  • The interpretation is co-created by not only the interviewer but also with help from the interviewee, as the researcher uses the interpretation given by the interviewee while also constructing their own meaning from the narrative.
The researcher should draw upon their own knowledge and the research to label the narrative[20].
  • Some researchers view the goal of data interpretation as being to facilitate the interviewee's experience of the story[21].

Practices

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Narrative analysis can be used to acquire a deeper understanding of the ways in which a few individuals organize and derive meaning from events[22] . It can be particularly useful for studying the impact of social structures on an individual and how that relates to identity, intimate relationships, and family[23] For example:

  • Feminist scholars have found narrative analysis useful for data collection of perspectives that have been traditionally marginalized as it is an excellent method for capturing minority populations or populations that are too small to be easily studied through quantitative analysis. The method is also appropriate to cross-cultural research. As Michael Brecher and Frank P. Harvey advocate, when asking unusual questions it is logical to ask them in an unusual manner.[24]
  • Developmental Psychology utilizes narrative inquiry to depict a child's experiences in areas such as self-regulation, problem-solving and development of self. [25]
  • Personality psychology uses the narrative approach in order to illustrate the construction of an individual's identity over a lifespan. [26]
  • Social movements have used narrative analysis in their persuasive techniques.[27]

References

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  1. ^ Coffey, Amanda & Paul Atkinson (1996). "Making Sense of Qualitative Data." Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  2. ^ Polkinghorne, Donald E. (1995). Narrative configuration in qualitative analysis. Qualitative studies in education, Vol. 8, issue 2.
  3. ^ Polkinghorne, Donald E. (1995). Narrative configuration in qualitative analysis. Qualitative studies in education, Vol. 8, issue 2.
  4. ^ Riessman, C.K. (1993). "Narrative Analysis." Newbury Park: Sage Publications.
  5. ^ Smith C.P. (2000). Content analysis and narrative analysis. In: Reis HT, Judd CM, eds. Handbook of research methods in social and personality psychology. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
  6. ^ William Labov (1972). Some principles of linguistic methodology. Language in Society, 1, pp 97-120 doi:10.1017/S0047404500006576
  7. ^ Smith C.P. (2000). Content analysis and narrative analysis. In: Reis HT, Judd CM, eds. Handbook of research methods in social and personality psychology. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
  8. ^ Coffey, A. & Atkinson, P. (1996) Making sense of qualitative data. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
  9. ^ Coffey, A. & Atkinson, P. (1996) Making sense of qualitative data. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
  10. ^ Polkinghorne, Donald (1995). "Narrative Configuration in Qualitative Analysis". Qualitative Studies in Education. 8 (1).
  11. ^ Polkinghorne, Donald E. (1995). Narrative Configuration in Qualitative Analysis. Qualitative Studies in Eduction, Vol. 8, Issue 2.
  12. ^ Polkinghorne, Donald E. (1995). Narrative Configuration in Qualitative Analysis. Qualitative Studies in Eduction, Vol. 8, Issue 2.
  13. ^ Campbell, J. (1998). The power of myths. New York: Doubleday.
  14. ^ Riessman, C.K. (1993). "Narrative Analysis." Newbury Park: Sage Publications.
  15. ^ Riessman, C. K. (1993). "Narrative Analysis." Newbury Park: Sage Publications.
  16. ^ Polkinghorne, Donald (1995). "Narrative Configuration in Qualitative Analysis". Qualitative Studies in Education. 8 (1).
  17. ^ Denzin, N.K. & Lincoln, Y.S. (1998) (Eds). Collecting and interpreting qualitative materials. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publication.
  18. ^ Denzin, N.K. & Lincoln, Y.S. (1998) (Eds). Collecting and interpreting qualitative materials. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publication.
  19. ^ Coffey, A. & Atkinson, P. (1996) Making sense of qualitative data. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
  20. ^ Riessman, C.K. (1993). "Narrative Analysis." Newbury Park: Sage Publications.
  21. ^ Polkinghorne, Donald E. (1995). Narrative Configuration in Qualitative Analysis. Qualitative Studies in Eduction, Vol. 8, Issue 2.
  22. ^ Polkinghorne, Donald (1995). "Narrative Configuration in Qualitative Analysis". Qualitative Studies in Education. 8 (1).
  23. ^ Frost, David M. (2011). "Stigma and Intimacy in Same Sex Relationships: A Narrative Approach". Journal of Family Psychology. 25 (1).
  24. ^ Michael Brecher and Frank P. Harvey (2002). Millennial Reflections on International Studies (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press), 326.
  25. ^ Smith C.P. (2000). Content analysis and narrative analysis. In: Reis HT, Judd CM, eds. Handbook of research methods in social and personality psychology. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
  26. ^ McAdams, D.P. & Zeldow, P.B. (1993). Construct validity and content analysis. Journal of Personality Assessment, 61. 243-245.
  27. ^ Donald E. Polkinghorne (1995). Narrative configuration in qualitative analysis. Qualitative Studies in Education, Vol. 8.

Methods for narrative inquiry (for Narrative Inquiry Talk Page)

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The listed treatment of narrative inquiry is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all possible methods for narrative inquiry. It is, however, a verifiable listing of some methods of narrative inquiry. This section will need to be added to and contributed to by numerous researchers within various fields to accomplish a complete listing of all possible methods of narrative inquiry.

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