Narrative Research

Abstract

Abstract Narrative research is a qualitative research methodology in the narrative inquiry tradition. Narrative inquiries elicit and analyzes stories in order to understand people, cultures, and societies. Narrative inquiry emerged from social constructionism and the narrative turn, which attuned narrative researchers to the importance of story and the belief that people's lives are forged through stories. Narrative inquiries can be categorized as narratives of the self, narratives and society, and narratives for/of social justice. They are distinguished by their focus on the author's story, composition and analysis of narrative within broader cultural and social discourses, and use of critical theories to tell counterstories of oppressed and marginalized groups. Future influences on narrative inquiry and research include new materialist and posthumanist theories, large and small scale political and social activism, and mass production of narratives via social media.