Qualitative Data Qualitative Data Analysis: An introductionAnalysis: An introduction

Carol GrbichCarol Grbich

Chapter 17 :Chapter 17 :

Narrative analysisNarrative analysis

Narrative analysisNarrative analysis

There are two main versions of narrative analysis:There are two main versions of narrative analysis:

socio-linguistic socio-linguistic which focuses on ‘plots’ or the which focuses on ‘plots’ or the structure of narratives and how they convey structure of narratives and how they convey meaningmeaning

socio-culturalsocio-cultural which looks at the broader which looks at the broader interpretive frameworks that people use to make interpretive frameworks that people use to make sense of particular incidents in individual’s livessense of particular incidents in individual’s lives

Narrative analysisNarrative analysis When to useWhen to use: : when you are collecting stories from when you are collecting stories from

participantsparticipants

Type of research questionsType of research questions: : those that explore those that explore either the structure of narratives or the specific either the structure of narratives or the specific experiences of particular events,.experiences of particular events,.

StrengthsStrengths: : gives insight into how individuals gives insight into how individuals structure communication for effect and how they structure communication for effect and how they construct meaning from their life experiences.construct meaning from their life experiences.

WeaknessesWeaknesses: : when only one approach (socio-when only one approach (socio-linguistic/socio-cultural) is used the perspective is linguistic/socio-cultural) is used the perspective is limitedlimited

Socio-linguistic approach: processSocio-linguistic approach: process Abstract Abstract - an initial clause that reports or summarises the entire - an initial clause that reports or summarises the entire

sequence of events of the narrativesequence of events of the narrative

Orientation clausesOrientation clauses - the time, place and events of the narrative - the time, place and events of the narrative

Complicating action clausesComplicating action clauses - these clauses form the main body of - these clauses form the main body of the story and provide the next sequential event to respond to the the story and provide the next sequential event to respond to the question ‘and what happened then?’question ‘and what happened then?’

EvaluationEvaluation – interpretation of the significance of events and – interpretation of the significance of events and meanings and also the importance of the narrator’s situation, meanings and also the importance of the narrator’s situation, socialisation, experience and viewssocialisation, experience and views

Result Result or resolution – the final outcome of the narrativeor resolution – the final outcome of the narrative

CodaCoda (often missing) - ties narrator and audience back to the present (often missing) - ties narrator and audience back to the present(adapted from Labov and Walensky, 1967, Labov, 1972 : 370, Labov, (adapted from Labov and Walensky, 1967, Labov, 1972 : 370, Labov,

1997)1997)

Example: socio linguistic analysisExample: socio linguistic analysis She gave birth after a long She gave birth after a long labour (labour (orientationorientation))

She went into labour on ThursdayShe went into labour on Thursday ( (complicating actioncomplicating action))

On Friday they said she would have to have a CaesarOn Friday they said she would have to have a Caesar ((complicating actioncomplicating action))

I think they should have let her have a normal birth, but I think they should have let her have a normal birth, but these Gynaecologists won’t work weekendsthese Gynaecologists won’t work weekends ( (evaluationevaluation))

And she had a lovely baby girlAnd she had a lovely baby girl ( (resultresult))

They’re all fine nowThey’re all fine now ( (codacoda))

Criticisms of the sociolinguistic approachCriticisms of the sociolinguistic approach The focus is the text and the sequence of events and what is missing is The focus is the text and the sequence of events and what is missing is

the interaction between the actor and the audience; the power relations; the interaction between the actor and the audience; the power relations; the shifts in meaning; the outcomes in terms of impact on the listener; the shifts in meaning; the outcomes in terms of impact on the listener; and the development of shared understandings. and the development of shared understandings.

The assumption that language represents reality does not take into The assumption that language represents reality does not take into account the arguments that language is power laden, embedded in account the arguments that language is power laden, embedded in culture and socialisation contexts, and actually constitutes and culture and socialisation contexts, and actually constitutes and constructs reality. constructs reality.

Narratives are complex constructions of meaning linking personal lives, Narratives are complex constructions of meaning linking personal lives, community and culture and should be preserved intact, not fracturedcommunity and culture and should be preserved intact, not fractured

The context is completely omitted and the impact of the issues of race, The context is completely omitted and the impact of the issues of race, class, gender and hierarchy are not considered.class, gender and hierarchy are not considered.

Narratives may not follow a chronological sequence in a linear way Narratives may not follow a chronological sequence in a linear way through time, they may be linked by themes which are not necessarily through time, they may be linked by themes which are not necessarily sequential.sequential.

Socio-cultural approachesSocio-cultural approaches

3 Narrative approaches:3 Narrative approaches:

structural structural where the focus is primarily on where the focus is primarily on whatwhat has been said and has been said and the classification of this into a particular typology or narrative the classification of this into a particular typology or narrative type which can be named. type which can be named.

performativeperformative with a focus on the with a focus on the howhow of the story in particular how of the story in particular how it has been constructed in the dialogical process between it has been constructed in the dialogical process between interviewer and interviewee and how it has been communicated interviewer and interviewee and how it has been communicated and interpreted both between the two and between the writer and interpreted both between the two and between the writer and the audience. and the audience.

autoethnographyautoethnography where both the where both the what what and the and the how how of the of the narrative come in to play as the researcher crafts and shapes their narrative come in to play as the researcher crafts and shapes their own story for the audience as they move inward to share often own story for the audience as they move inward to share often very personal aspects of their lives and then step outside to very personal aspects of their lives and then step outside to pursue another more distant but critically self-interpretive view.pursue another more distant but critically self-interpretive view.

(Cassandra Phoenix et al. 2010)(Cassandra Phoenix et al. 2010)

Socio-cultural approach: ProcessSocio-cultural approach: Process Identify the boundariesIdentify the boundaries of the narrative segments in the of the narrative segments in the

interview transcript. These may be entire life stories or specific interview transcript. These may be entire life stories or specific life episodes recorded in interactive talk or interviewslife episodes recorded in interactive talk or interviews

Explore the content and contextExplore the content and context of the story. of the story. How do people make sense of events? How do people make sense of events?

What emotions and feelings are displayed?What emotions and feelings are displayed?

Compare different peoples storiesCompare different peoples stories

Link storiesLink stories to relevant political structures and cultural locations to relevant political structures and cultural locations

Interpret storiesInterpret stories being aware of your own positions and being aware of your own positions and reactions and how these shape the final textreactions and how these shape the final text

Socio-cultural analysis (Greg, 2006Socio-cultural analysis (Greg, 2006) )

Divide the text into episodes which comprise the Divide the text into episodes which comprise the plot/sequence of the story plot/sequence of the story

Eliminate material irrelevant to the plot (often facts)Eliminate material irrelevant to the plot (often facts)

Identify the stanzas in each episode which comprise a Identify the stanzas in each episode which comprise a single theme or embedded storysingle theme or embedded story

Identify contrasts, binary oppositions and mediating Identify contrasts, binary oppositions and mediating terms (a blend of the shared features) within and terms (a blend of the shared features) within and across each episodeacross each episode

Socio-cultural, reducing narratives to Socio-cultural, reducing narratives to their elementstheir elements

Scene 1Scene 1 Well mum thought I was being taken for a ride by an older womanWell mum thought I was being taken for a ride by an older woman when she first found out I was going to be a father.when she first found out I was going to be a father. Her first reaction was that I wasn’t a virgin, which shows where Her first reaction was that I wasn’t a virgin, which shows where

her thinking lay. her thinking lay.

Scene 2Scene 2 She’s now good, she’s come round a lot.She’s now good, she’s come round a lot. She gets on very well with Dan (his partner’s child by another She gets on very well with Dan (his partner’s child by another

relationship),relationship), and she gets on well with Jen (partner).and she gets on well with Jen (partner). Once she got over the problem of Jen being a terrible womanOnce she got over the problem of Jen being a terrible woman – – a single mother who wanted someone to hang her bloody hat a single mother who wanted someone to hang her bloody hat

with – with – they got on very well, they got on very well,

so that’s been a substantial change.so that’s been a substantial change.