Designing for Dynamics in Dynamic Narrative Inquiry

Abstract

This article addresses the question “How is dynamic narrative inquiry dynamic?” To do that, I present principles of dynamic narrative inquiry, with a focus on the active authoring of meaning in research interactions as in everyday life. Drawing on prior examples of activity-meaning system research designs and dynamic narrative analyses, I illustrate how this authoring process involves creative use of language and literary forms to express and transform interactive meaning with diverse others and one’s self. A goal of the article is to increase researchers’ sensitivity to the fact that paying attention to how everyone communicates offers major and otherwise overlooked insights into what everyone is saying about the issue of interest.