Qualitative research in criminology

Present a thorough discussion of narrative research (characteristics,

value and limitations).

Student Details

Mr P H Dotyeni

36086355
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Assignment 01

Contents
01 Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 3
02 Characteristics ................................................................................................................................ 3
2.1 Case Study: Narratives of Chronic Illness .............................................................................. 4
03 Value of narrative studies ............................................................................................................. 6
04 Limitations of narrative studies ..................................................................................................... 6
05 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 7
06 REFERENCE LIST ........................................................................................................................ 8

Mr Pilasande Dotyeni
36086355
 Unisa
Assignment 01

01 Introduction
Narrative is a popular portmanteau term in contemporary western social research (Bold,
2012). More so, a narrative can be considered to be a verbal account of a number of
events in the order in which they occurred (M. Shoeman, 2014).

In the last three decades, narrative research has acquired an increasingly high profile in
social research, following a series of ‘narrative turns’ in other disciplinary fields, like
history and literary studies (Hyvärinen, 2010). It therefore becomes imperative to
understand why this research methodology has become so popular amongst
researchers. Additionally, it is also imperative to understand the characteristics, value
and limitations of this research methodology.

02 Characteristics

It often seems as if all social researchers are doing narrative research in some way. Yet
narrative research, although it is popular and engaging, is difficult; how to go about it is
much discussed. According to Moen (2006) a narrative can be defined as the process of
telling a story or giving an account or an event or experience wherein the researcher
focuses on the participants life stories. Of importance is that researchers would study
personal or group narratives within the context of their natural settings.

The accounts people tell us about their lives form a fundamental part of social inquiry;
that is, as social researchers we gather accounts about people’s lives, which we
subsequently use to produce our own accounts of issues of concern to us (Earthy, S.
and Cronin, A., 2008).

Although narrative analysis has its origins in literary theory and is closely associated
with media and cultural studies, social scientists have become interested in using it as a
means to gain greater understanding of the social world and the production of data
(Earthy, S. and Cronin, A., 2008).

According to Moen (2006) three basic assumptions underpin narrative research:

Mr Pilasande Dotyeni
36086355
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Assignment 01

 That human beings organize their experiences of the world into narratives and
that narratives are the primary method by which human existence is rendered
meaningful
 That the stories that are told depend on the individual past and current
experiences, values and who they are telling the story to
 That researchers acknowledge the multi-voiced-ness that is present in narratives.
This ultimately means that everyone’s experience and ultimately how they tell
their story is shaped by their environment, culture and various perceptions.

In addition, unlike other qualitative research perspectives, narrative research offers no

overall rules about suitable materials or modes of investigation, or the best level at
which to study stories. It does not tell us whether to look for stories in recorded
everyday speech, interviews, diaries, photographs, tv programmes, newspaper articles
or the patterned activities of people’s everyday lives; whether to aim for objectivity or
researcher and participant involvement; whether to analyse stories’ particularity or
generality; or what epistemological or ontological significance to attach to narratives.
Despite these difficulties, many of us who work with narratives want to continue and
develop this work. Most often, perhaps, we frame our research in terms of narrative
because we believe that by doing so we are able to see different and sometimes
contradictory layers of meaning, to bring them into useful dialogue with each other, and
to understand more about individual and social change (Earthy, S. and Cronin, A.,
2008).

2.1 Case Study: Narratives of Chronic Illness

Sociologists who have interviewed people with a chronic illness such as rheumatoid
arthritis have noted that these conversations often take the form of a narrative of both
the illness (how it began, possible causes, interactions with health professionals,
significant developments, day- to-day living, changed priorities, and so on) and the
impact of illness and disability on the person’s social roles and hence sense of worth.

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Bury (2001) has distinguished between narratives of chronic illness that try to make
sense of the experience of illness (‘contingent narratives’) and those that address a
changed self (‘moral narratives’) but in practice these may be combined. These insights
into the purpose of narratives told by interviewees can be applied to many other
interview topics, particularly where the experience being described is problematic,
unresolved or associated with stigma.

In explaining the concepts of Clandin and Connely (in Creswell, 2007,) wherein they
state that five aspects should included in the collection and analysis of data when doing
narrative research, I shall use the above case study to identify those aspects.

Aspect Example in case study

Identify Research Problem Narratives of chronic illnesses
Select a participant Various people with chronic illnesses
Understand the context of information. Background of participants. How it began,
Understand the person who is telling possible causes, interactions with health
the narrative. professionals, significant developments,
day- to-day living, changed priorities, and
so on.
Analyze the narratives Bury provides his insights to the
narratives. The researcher must always
provide his own insights after reading the
narrative story.
Collaboration with participants Bury collaborates with participants to
understand and give further insight into the
narratives. A researcher should have a
frank discussion with the participants and
try and provide further analyses jointly with
the interviewee.

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03 Value of narrative studies

The fundamental value of narrative research is that it creates the opportunity to

understand the experiences and perceptions of individuals or groups within their life-
world (M. Schoeman, 2014).

A narrative approach is concerned not only with the story-telling components or

characteristics of an account, but also with the social interactions between interviewer
and interviewee that encourage and influence the way that an account is presented. To
adopt a narrative approach is to choose to understand and analyse interview or other
data from that perspective rather than, for example, focusing solely on the content of
what interviewees are saying or the conversational forms and rules that underlie the
interaction (Earthy, S. and Cronin, A., 2008).

The single interview data can be analysed in different ways. For example, an
interviewee might describe a traumatic event involving someone close to them, such as
a delay in seeking help for what turned out to be a serious illness. A thematic approach
to such data would involve comparing accounts from a sample of interviewees with
similar experiences to explore the reasons why those involved either sought or did not
seek advice or the nature of encounters with health professionals (Earthy, S. and
Cronin, A., 2008).

This is the true value of utilizing the narrative approach to research because it offers a
range of insights once analyzed.

04 Limitations of narrative studies

A single most challenging aspect of narrative research is that when the focus group or
number of interviewees is a considerable large number (above 500), the narrative
research approach can prove to be challenging because one would have to understand
each and every interviewee to better understand why they may have experienced and
even reacted to whatever narrative story they may have shared.

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Secondly, the narrative research approach assumes free and full participation by
interviewees. There is a general expectation that interviewees will just be open about
their lives and their backgrounds. This cannot be true. McMahon (2006) states that the
interviewee needs to agree to participate in this ‘exploitative’ process and be willing to
collaborate with the researcher and perhaps even have their entire life and background
exposed. Apart from the processes of narrative research being time consuming and
highly demanding, it is an approach which does not always work.

05 Conclusion
Narrative analysis allows the readers to understand a phenomenon through the stories
of peoples own perspective on the occurrence. The biggest challenge a researcher may
have is that if participants are not willing to completely disclose their background and
perceptions then it may prove to be difficult and their outcomes can be limited.
Additionally, when the focus group consists of a large sample group this process can be
time consuming.

Although narrative research has multiple challenges it remains to be popular amongst

researchers particularly in the fields of social science. When done properly this can lead
to exceptional findings and results and can prove to be helpful.

Mr Pilasande Dotyeni
36086355
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Assignment 01

06 REFERENCE LIST
1. Polkinghorne, D.E., 2007. Validity issues in narrative research. Qualitative
inquiry, 13(4), pp.471-486.
2. Squire, C., Andrews, M., Davis, M., Esin, C., Harrison, B., Hyden, L.C. and
Hyden, M., 2014. What is narrative research?. Bloomsbury Publishing.
3. Earthy, S. and Cronin, A., 2008. Narrative analysis.
4. Stebleton, M.J., 2010. narrative‐based career counseling perspectives in times of
change: an analysis of strengths and limitations. Journal of Employment
Counseling, 47(2), pp.64-78.

Mr Pilasande Dotyeni
36086355