Using the descriptive narrative

Applications to academic studies

Personal Narrative

 Social Function: Telling stories to your

friends

 Making a report: Filing a case to the

Discipline Office
Factual narrative
Academic Study

 Writing reflections: Theology courses

 Analyzing Historical Events:

- History class
- Reading the newspaper

 Research Application
Research Application

Qualitative studies are rich

descriptive and narrative analysis of
events or experiences of a phenomenon
Example 1

 A study on the computer experience of

first time users.

The experience involves interpretations of

events and experiences. Findings show four
major themes defining the experience. These
are (a) the encounter (b) the learning
experience (c) becoming a computer literate
(d) alterity – the computer as other
Example 2

 A study on “The Meaning of Fear of

Failure of Freshman College Students”

Thick descriptions and narrations of fears

experience by college freshman. The analysis
and finding result to a program to help
freshman to cope with the demands of college
life.
Other Examples
 “Constructions of survival and coping by
women who have survived childhood sexual
abuse”

 A gunman case study -

“ Campus response to a student gunman”