Qualitative Methods Questions
The key steps involved in conducting narrative inquiry are as follows:
1. Defining the research question: Clearly articulate the specific research question or objective that will guide the narrative inquiry.
2. Selecting participants: Identify individuals who have relevant experiences or perspectives related to the research question. These participants will be the primary sources of the narratives.
3. Collecting narratives: Use various methods such as interviews, focus groups, or written accounts to collect the narratives from the selected participants. These narratives should provide rich and detailed descriptions of their experiences.
4. Transcribing and organizing narratives: Transcribe the collected narratives into written form and organize them in a systematic manner. This may involve categorizing the narratives based on themes or commonalities.
5. Analyzing narratives: Engage in a thorough analysis of the narratives to identify patterns, themes, and meanings. This can be done through coding, thematic analysis, or other qualitative analysis techniques.
6. Interpreting and making sense of narratives: Reflect on the analyzed narratives to develop interpretations and make sense of the findings. This involves critically examining the narratives in relation to the research question and relevant theoretical frameworks.
7. Reporting and presenting findings: Communicate the findings of the narrative inquiry in a clear and coherent manner. This may involve writing a research report, presenting at conferences, or publishing in academic journals.
It is important to note that these steps are not necessarily linear and may involve an iterative process of data collection, analysis, and interpretation.