Narrative Analysis Birgitta Rubenson 2019 The most traditional
Narrative Analysis Birgitta Rubenson 2019
The most traditional way of transferring information/knowledge/values A story of something that has happened Belongs to humanities – ethnology, literature, theology But now common also in health related research Examples: children’s stories (Brothers Grimm), films, novels, bible stories
People create meaning from their experiences through narrating them (Sandelowski 1994) They interpret their experiences as they create their story about them (Riessman 1993) People construct their own idenrities by using these narrative operations ro produce srories about who they are. (Polkinghorn 1998)
An important function of a narrative is to justify the narrator’s view or behaviour (Riessman) Relevant for studying how people make sense of disruptive life events (Becker) Thus narratives become a plea to be acknowledged as a good and considerate person, by the audience and also by oneself (Mischler)
Characteristics of a narrative • • A beginning A plot/ happening/ turning point An end Sometimes also a concluding remark, learning, moral
Narratives in research To learn about people’s behaviour and their explanations of it To compare experiences and ways of giving meaning to them To place experiences within a wider framework of explanation – grand narratives
Narratives When, how and why? Tell a story Describe an event Give meaning to life Justify behaviour and choices Make decisions, behaviour understandable Narratives are not suitable: to describe phenomena, activities etc. There content analysis, phenomenography or grounded theory are better
Qualitative interviewing One or several visits – time for interview (length) Open questions – tell me about, why did you…? how do you perceive…? what happened, when …. Listen well, nodding, quiet moments, probing, prompts, … Strive for a dialogue/ conversational interview, empathetic mind Semi-structured interviews are not the same Use helpful tools. 6/7/2021 Birgitta Rubenson, Global Health 8
Data collection Stories Diaries Interviews Letters
Data collection 2 Notes Tapes Transscripts How much detail is needed? Do you want to use quotes?
Helpful tools Story telling Norms, attitudes, dreams, expectation - Less threatening Community mapping Living conditions, meeting places, fears, risks, favourite places, mobility - Social Networks Friends, relatives, adults, children, enemies Role play social interactions, risk behaviour 6/7/2021 Life calendar Life-story, reconstruct life, identity development Birgitta Rubenson, Global Health 11
Story telling
Community mapping
Social networks
Role-play
Life-calendar
Using theory Often it is helpful to use theories from social sciences or literature when analysing. It can help give structure and ideas. e. g. SOC (Antonovsky) AAAQ (right to health) Child rights principles
Sense of Coherence Comprehensibility Manageability Meaningsfulness
Right to Health Availability Accessibility Acceptability Quality
Child Rights Non-discrimination ‘Best interest’ Life, survival, development Participation
Analysis Entire stories grand narratives type narratives Brief topical stories how do people tell about an event/experience ’Narrative finder – narrative creater’ (Kvale)
Narrative Structuring into thematic narratives What are the main characteristics in the behaviour of the participants? How do they relate to others in their environment? How do they present and explain their behaviour and choices? How do they tell about them, what do they want to convey about themselves and their lives? (Frank, Riessman, Kvale, Mischler) (Frank A)
Topical Narratives Characteristics brief, focused, organised around characters, setting and plot Analysis How is self/identity presented in the story? How is self positioned in relation to others in the narrative? How is meaning constructed? Findings Presented with quotes
Trustworthiness Member check Go back, repeat interviews Thick description Setting, every step to be followed Triangulation Plausibility
Transferability Can the findings help explain other phenomena in similar settings, or situations ‘keeping healthy in the backseat’ ‘as a man I felt small’
Literature Frank, A. (1995) The wounded story-teller Chicago Univ. Press Kvale, S. (1996) Inter Views. An introduction to Qualitative research, SAGE Publ. Mischler, E. (1986) Research Interviewing: Context and Narrative Harvard Univ. Press Riessmann, C. (1993) Narrative Methods in Human Sciences, Methodology, Vol 30, SAGE Publ. Sandelowski, M. (1991) Telling stories: Narrative Approaches in Qualitative Research, Journal of Nursing Scholorship 23(3) Polkinghorn, D. (1995) Transformative Narratives: From Victimic to Agentic Life Plots, American Journal of Occupational Therapy Squire, C. (2008) Approaches to Narrative Research, Research Methods, NCRM Review Papers
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