Dr.

Aftab Explains

NARRATIVE
ANALYSIS
 Narrative analysis is all about listening to people Telling Stories
to gain insight into the ways that people deal with and make sense
of reality.
N a r r a t i v e Analysis

T h e process that researchers use to understand h o w

research participants construct story a n d narrative f r o m
their o w n personal experiences.

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 N a r r a t i v e Analysis

 Narrative analysis emphasizes content and its meanings, which are sometimes
revealed in structural forms.
 The narrative telling is not mimetic; it is not an exact representation of what
happened, but a particular construction of events created in a particular setting, for
a particular audience, for particular purposes, to create a certain point of view
(Mishler, 2004).
 Therefore, we pay a lot of attention to the context (both relational and social) in
which the narrative is constructed.
 In addition, the principles of reflexivity require that the researcher regard findings
as relative to his or her standpoint as an observer.
 CONT….

Narrative researchers read texts for personal, social, and historical conditions that mediate
the story. Analysis is aimed at discovering both the themes that unify the story and the
disparate voices that carry, comment on, and disrupt the main themes.

The construction of the story reflects the current internal world of the narrator as well as
aspects of the social world in which he or she lives. Rather than just identifying and
describing themes, narrative analysis endeavors to understand the themes in relation to one
another as a dynamic whole
 Narrative researchers focus first on the voices within each narrative, attending to the layering of
voices (subject positions), their interaction, and the continuities, ambiguities, and disjunctions
expressed.
 The researcher pays attention to both the content of the narration (“the told”) and the structure of
the narration (“the telling”). Narrative analysts may also pay attention to what is unsaid or
unsayable (Rogers et al., 1999) by looking at the structure of the narrative discourse and markers
of omissions.
 After each participant’s story is understood as well as possible, cross-case analysis may be
performed to discover patterns across individual narrative interview texts or to explore what may
create differences between people in their narrated experiences.
 Narrative Analysis
Analysis from the stance of the hermeneutic circle involves gaining an overall
sense of meaning and then examining the parts in relation to it—which will
involve changing our understanding of the whole until we arrive at a holistic
understanding that best encompasses the meanings of the parts. In order to
approach such a text, we would engage in the following operations:

1. We do an overall reading of the interview to get a sense of how the narrative

is structured and the general theme or themes. Then we return to each
specific part to develop its meaning, and then consider the more global
meanings in light of the deepened meaning of the parts.

2. We do multiple readings to identify different “voices” of the self and to create

a view of how these selves are in dialogue with one another.
3. These iterative(READ WITH ATTENTION) readings continue until we develop a “good
Gestalt” that
encompasses contradictions. The different themes make sensible patterns
and enter into a coherent unity.

4. The work also enters into conversation with the larger theoretical literature so
that the researcher can remain sensitive to nuances of meanings expressed
and the different contexts into which the meanings may enter.

Always we attempt to be aware of our own presuppositions—how the

interviewer and the interpreter are shaping the text as a coconstructed situation.
Finally, we hope that the interpretation brings forth something new—something
not apparent in the surface of the text.
 Dual Layer of Interpretation

T h e r e s e a r c h p a r t i c i p a n t s (storytellers) i n t e r p r e t
t h e i r o w n lives t h r o u g h n a r r a t i v e
T h e researcher interprets the construction of that
narrative

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 Core Narrative

A generalized narrative gr o u nd e d
i n y o u r r e s e a r c h p ar t i c ip an t s ’
stories.

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 Step by Step Approach of
N a r r a t i v e Analysis
1.D a t a c o l l e c t i o n
2. Tr a n s c r i p t i o n
3. T h r e e t y p e s o f n a r r a t i v e s
4. Analysis

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N a r r a t i v e Analysis
Qualitative Data
Journals
Letters
C o n v e r sa t io n s
Autobiographies
Tr a n s c r i p t s o f i n t e r v i e w s
Focus groups
O t h e r types of
n a r r a t i v e q ua li t at i v e
research

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STRATEGIES FOR CAPTURING
NARRATIVE

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 Types of
Narratives

To p i c a l S t o r y Personal Narrative E n t i r e Life S t o r y

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 Tr a n s c r i b i n g f o r N a r r a t i v e Analysis

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Researchers should n o t take what
t h e i n t e r v i e w e e says a t f a c e value.

T h e p o i n t o f n a r r a t i v e analysis is n o t t o f i g u r e o u t
fact f r o m fiction.

It's a b o u t i n t e r p r e t i n g h o w t h e r e s e a r c h
p a r t i c i p a n t f o r m s t h e i r o w n self n a r r a t i v e .
 Ta k e v e r b a t i m t r a n s c r i p t s
of interviews
I n c l u d e p a u s e s , filler w o r d s , a n d s t r a y
u t t e r a n c e s like “um….”.

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CODING
NARRATIVE
DATA
Inductive a nd deductive m e th ods

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 E n t r a n c e Ta l k E x a m p l e s
1.T h e r e wa s t h i s o n e time...
2. L e t m e gi ve y o u a n o t h e r e x a m p l e . . .
3. I al wa ys r e m e m b e r when...

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Exit Ta l k E x a m p l e s
1. S o t hat's h o w t h a t w r a p p e d u p .
2. T h i s wa s a p r e t t y classic e x a m p l e of...
3. T h a t wa s t h e e n d o f t h a t .

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 Semi-structured interviews
aren't screenplays

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Deductive m e t h o d
o f n a r r a t i v e analysis

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TYPES OF
STORY
STRUCTURE
FRAMEWORKS
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 Va n S an t , G. (1997). G o o d Wil l H u n t i n g . M i r a m a x .

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 Beginning, Middle a n d E n d

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Beginning, Middle
and End Example
B e g i n n i n g : S e a n is a R e d S o x
fan w h o wants to see g a m e 6
o f t h e Wo r l d Series.
Mi dd le : H e a n d h i s f r i e n d s
all g e t tickets, b u t S e a n
skips t h e g a m e w h e n h e
m e e t s a b e a u t i f u l girl. Va n Sa nt , G. (1997). G o o d Wi ll H u n t i n g . M i r a m a x .

End: S e a n m a r r i e s t h e girl,
a n d has n o regrets about
missing the game.

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S t o r y Circle
1.Yo u - A c h a r a c t e r is i n a z o n e o f c o m f o r t
2. N e e d - B u t t h e y w a n t s o m e t h i n g
3. G o - T h e y g o l o o k i n g f o r it
4. S e a rc h - T h e y s e a r c h f o r it
5. F i n d - T h e y f i n d it
6. Ta k e / P a y - T h e y p a y a h e a v y p r i c e f o r it
7. R e t u r n - T h e n r e t u r n t o t h e i r f a m i l i a r s i t u a t i o n
8. C h a n g e - H a v i n g c h a n g e d

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S t o r y C ircl e E x a m p l e
You: S e a n is a R e d S o x fan. Pay: D e s p i t e g e t t i n g t h e tickets
Need: Sean a n d his S e a n skips t h e h i s t o r i c g a m e t o
friends want to see g a m e m e e t a b e a u t i f u l girl h e m e e t s
6 o f t h e Wo r l d Series. at a bar before the game.
Go: T h e y g e t tickets. Return: T h e d a y e n d s a n d t h e y
Search: T h e y c a m p o u t all all g o h o m e .
n i g h t t o t r y t o g e t tickets. C ha ng e d: S e a n is i n l o v e a n d
Find: T h e y a r e a b l e t o thus has n o regrets about
p u r c h a s e tickets. missing t h e historic R e d Sox
game.

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 "Doing Narrative
Analysis” f r o m We n d y
Patterson
1.Abstract: T h e c o r e t he sis o f t h e s t o r y
2. Orientation: T i m e , place, s i t u a t i o n , a n d c h a r a c t e r s
3. C o m p l i c a t i n g action: S e q u e n c e o f e v e n t s , p l o t
4. Re sol utio n: O u t c o m e o f t h e s t o r y
5. Coda: Story’s e n d i n g
6. Evaluation: H o w t h e s t o r y t e l l e r c o m m e n t s o n m e a n i n g

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" D o i n g N a r r a t i v e Analysis” E x a m p l e
(1/2)
Abstract: T h e c o r e t hes is is C o m p l i c a t i n g action: S e a n a n d
t h a t l o v e is w o r t h t h e his friends c a m p o u t to get
sacrifice a n d p a i n t h a t m a y tickets t o t h e base bal l g a m e , b u t
c o m e w i t h it. S e a n skips t h e g a m e t o “see
Orientation: O c t 21 1975. a b o u t a girl.”
Boston. T h e d a y of g a m e 6 Re sol uti on: S e a n a n d t h e girl h e
o f t h e Wo r l d Series. m e e t s at the g a m e e n d u p
Characters: Sean, his friends, getting married.
a n d h i s f u t u r e wife.

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 " D o i n g N a r r a t i v e Analysis” E x a m p l e
(2/2)
Coda: S e a n a n d h i s wife a r e I n t h e s a m e way, h e d o e s n o t
m a r r i e d f o r 16 y e ars, u n t i l h e regret meeting her a n d
loses h e r t o a n illness. s p e n d i n g 16 y e a r s w i t h h e r,
Evaluation: S e a n a t t h e e n d d e s p i t e t h e fact t h a t h e is n o w
o f t h e s c e n e m a k e s it v e r y still h e a r t b r o k e n f r o m
clear h o w h e interprets t h e l o si n g h e r.
s t o r y. H e d o e s n o t r e g r e t
missing t h e historic g a m e to
m e e t h i s f u t u r e wife.

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CODING
NARRATIVE DATA
Inductive and deductive method

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S tr at eg i e s f o r N a r r a t i v e Analysis

S t a r t w i t h i n d u c t i v e analysis
Read th ro ugh transcript
B r e a k u p t r a n s c r i p t s b y s t o ri es
C o m p a r e a n d c o n t r a s t s t o ri e s a c ro s s r e s e a r c h
participants

If y o u r d a t a set is rel at iv el y small, t h i s m a y b e e n o u g h t o

c o m e u p with core narratives.

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 If y o u h a v e a l a rg e r d a t a set:

Bring in the deductive m e t h o d

Re a d t h e stories y o u inductively c o d e d
Cod e t h e m by y o u r story structure of choice

T h i s will allow a m o r e i n d e p t h c o m p a r i s o n a c ro s s t h e
s t o r i e s i n y o u r r e s e a r c h . T h r o u g h all t h i s
comparison, you'll b e a b l e t o d e r i v e y o u r c o r e
narratives.

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Analyzing Results In The Narrative Method

 
 Once the narratives have been collected, researchers notice certain patterns and themes
emerging as they read and analyze the text. They note these down, compare them with
other research on the subject, figure out how it all fits together and then find a theory that
can explain these findings.
 Many social scientists have used narrative research as a valuable tool to analyze their
concepts and theories.
 This is mainly because narrative analysis is a more thorough and multifaceted method. It
helps researchers not only build a deeper understanding of their subject, but also helps
them figure out why people act and react as they do.
 Cont…
 Storytelling is a central feature of narrative research. The narrative interview is an interactive
conversation. This process can be very intimate and sometimes bring about powerful emotions
from both parties.
 Therefore, this form of qualitative research isn’t suitable for everyone. The interviewer needs to
be a good listener and must understand the interview process.
 The interviewee also needs to be comfortable to be able to provide authentic narratives.
Understanding what kind of research to use is a powerful tool for a manager. We can use
narrative analysis in many ways.
 Narrative research is a multifaceted method that has the potential to show different results based
on the researcher’s intentions for their study.
 NARRATIVE ANALYSIS
Of course, the narrative approach has its weaknesses, just like all analysis methods. Sample sizes
are generally quite small due to the time-consuming process of capturing narratives. Because of
this, along with the multitude of social and lifestyle factors which can influence a subject,
narrative analysis can be quite difficult to reproduce in subsequent research. This means that it’s
difficult to test the findings of some of this research.
Similarly, researcher bias can have a strong influence on the results here, so you need to be
particularly careful about the potential biases you can bring into your analysis when using this
method. Nevertheless, narrative analysis is still a very useful qualitative method – just keep these
limitations in mind and be careful not to draw broad conclusions.
START NARRATIVE
ANALYSIS

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THANK YOU