Narrative Research

Narrative Research







Siouda Douglas, Kristen Gallo-Zdunowski


and Erik Pedersen

Let us tell you a story about…








• What narrative research is




• Where narrative research came from




• Why you would use a narrative approach




• Different kinds of narrative approaches




• What the benefits and challenges are




• Methods employed in narrative research




• Our own reflections on narrative research

What is narrative research?










“Narrative inquiry is an approach to the study of




human lives conceived as a way of honoring lived




experience as a source of important knowledge and




understanding.”





(Clandinin, 2013, p. 17)

Who is a narrative researcher?









“What narrative researchers hold in common is the




study of stories or narratives or descriptions of a




series of events. These researchers usually embrace the




assumption that the story is one, if not the




fundamental unit, that accounts for human




experience.”




(Pinnegar & Daynes, 2007, p. 4)

What is narrative research? (cont.)








Elements of Narrative Research



• Stories from individuals


• Different methods can be used to gather stories



• Narrative inquiry requires thinking in three commonplaces

simultaneously: temporality, sociality, and place



• Researchers are part of the story and must understand themselves


• Stories may be reordered by a researcher – in the "midst"


• "Final research texts do not have final answers, because narrative


inquirers do not come with questions." (Clandinin, 2013, p. 51)




(Clandinin, 2013) & (Creswell & Poth, 2018)

Once Upon a Time…






Narrative research was born.

Short Story of Narrative Inquiry










• Draws from John Dewey's theories of experience:




interaction, continuity, and reflection






• Two pioneers: Michael Connelly and Jean Clandinin







• The concept of narrative spread to other fields












(Lindsay & Schwind, 2016)

This is the Part When…






Narrative research jumps into action.

Using Narrative Research







• Researchers collect stories of lived experiences


• Stories explain individuals' identities and are situational and


contextual


• Data forms include: interviews, observations, documents...


• Analysis can be from the story itself; who told it; and who is


receiving the story


• Researchers make stories chronological



• Stories can be told with turning points with a lead-up


• Four patterns of narratives to help meak meaning are:


comparison, contrast, transformation, and coherence



(Creswell & Poth, 2018)

Narrative Research Approaches










• Biographical study






• Autoethnography







• Oral history














(Creswell & Poth, 2018)

Before We Come to an End…






Narrative research shows its worth.

Challenges and Benefits









Challenges Benefits



✓ Researcher must collect extensive info. ✓ Memorable knowledge can clarify multiple

about participants. layers of one's culture.



✓ Research is time-consuming. ✓ Situational knowledge is from various
perspectives, truths and meanings.
✓ A keen eye is needed to understand all
the layers in the context of one's life. ✓ Challenges are revealed from the past

while sense is made of the events showing
✓ It is unclear who owns the data, the story, what occurred.

and who can tell and change it.
✓ Complex descriptions from a specific
culture are revealed.





(Clandinin, 2013) & (Creswell & Poth, 2018)

Methods Used in Narrative Research








❑ Collaborative approach






❑ Restorying





❑ Artifacts (journals, photos, field notes)






❑ Written form






❑ Transcription/recording

Magic Mirror on the Wall…






Show us reflections on this research method.

Group Reflections

References








Clandinin, J. (2013). Engaging in narrative inquiry. Walnut Creek, CA: Left Coast Press, Inc.


Creswell, J.W., & Poth, C.N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five

approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.


Lindsay, G.M., & Schwind, J.K. (2016). Narrative inquiry: Experience matters. Canadian Journal

of Nursing Research, 48(1), 14-20.


Pinnegar, S. & Daynes, J.G. (2007) Locating narrative historically: Thematics in

the turn to narrative. In D.J. Clandinin (Ed.), Handbook of narrative inquiry: Mapping a
methodology (pp. 3-33). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.