Narrative AnalysisRecipient of the 1994 Critics′ Choice Award from the American Educational Studies Association People tell stories to help organize and make sense of their lives. In the past, their narratives have often been torn apart by social scientists looking for themes, variables, and specific answers to specific questions. But in recent years, the development of narrative analysis has given life to the study of the narrative as a form of information for social research. Why are they constructed as they are? How does one dissect a narrative to understand the lived experience of the narrator? What steps can the researcher take to translate these tales and life stories into usable research? Catherine Kohler Riessman provides a detailed primer on the use of narrative analysis, its theoretical underpinnings and worldview, and the methods it uses. Replete with examples and transcriptions from previous narrative studies, Narrative Analysis is a useful introduction to this growing body of literature. |
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accounts action active analyzing approach argued attention beginning Bell cause Cindy Cindy's coherence common constructed context conversation create critical daughter describe developed discourse discussion display emotional evaluation examine example experience feel feminist Figure finally Ginsburg give groups happened historical idea important individuals interaction interested interpretation interview involves issue Kay's kind Labov language limited lines linguistic listener lives meaning method Mishler mother narrative analysis narrator nature organization particular past personal narratives plot political possible present Press problems qualitative questions reader readings refer relate represent representation response Riessman Sarah segments sense sequence shows social speak speech Stanza story structure subjects talk teller telling themes theory things told tradition transcribing Transcript transformation truth turn understanding University validation voice welfare women written