Qualitative Research: An Introduction to Methods and Designs

Narrative Inquiry: How to Begin

In “The Future of Narrative” (2007), theorist Petra Munro-Hendry suggests that all research is narrative, and moreover that a strong case can be made that narrative research is the first and oldest form of inquiry. In addition, Clandinin and Rosiek (2007) believe that what feels new is the emergence of narrative research in the field of social scientific research. As a result of the growing interest in narrative inquiry over the last twenty years in both theory and practice, it has been employed as a tool for analysis across disciplines. Two specific reasons for this interest include (1) a critique of the inherent strengths and weaknesses of conventional positivist research methods, and (2) a focus on the individual ...