Narrative methods

The analysis of narrative interviews also requires a different approach. The point of a narrative interview is to draw from participants an account of something they have experienced. Narrative analysis recognizes the extent to which the stories we tell provide insight into our lived experiences. Analysis of narrative data requires that we are able to detect the main themes (or points of emphasis) to emerge from these stories. It is these themes or points of emphasis that are used to interpret how these participants make sense of their lives or experiences.

Examples:

Bishop, R. (1996) Collaborative Research Stories: Whanaungatanga, Dunmore Press, Palmerston North.

Further Readings:

Czarniawska-Joerges, Barbara. (2004) Narratives in Social Science Research, Sage, Thousand Oaks, London.

Riessman, Catherine (1993) Narrative Analysis, Sage Publications, Newbury Park California.