Week 2

Narrative Approaches

Overview

  • Week: 2, Winter 2025

  • Course: CSRV37494

  • Focus of the Week:

    • Narrative Approaches

    • Case Study Analysis

    • Action Research and Community-Based Participatory Research

Qualitative Research Approaches: Recap

  • Previous Week Focused On:

    • Ethnography

    • Grounded Theory

    • Phenomenological Analysis

  • Current Week Focused On:

    • Narrative Approaches

    • Case Study Analysis

    • Action Research and Community-Based Participatory Research

Narrative Approaches

Definition and Conceptual Framework

  • Definition of Narrative: A narrative can be defined as a story of a sequence of events.

  • Narrative Approaches: Concerned with understanding how individuals construct themselves and their contexts.

  • Central Assumption:

    • People do not merely possess stories of their lives; rather, they experience their lives and convey these experiences in narrative forms.

    • Stories have roots in the past and extend into the future.

  • Focus Area: Understanding participants' perceptions of what they are doing and their motivations behind those actions.

    • Reference: Josselson, 2012

Process of Narrative Research

  • Initial Stage: Research begins with a conceptual question based on existing knowledge, which the researcher intends to explore through narratives.

  • Participant Involvement:

    • Participants are typically invited via interviews to narrate details of an event or significant time in their lives, which may encompass their entire life.

  • Researcher’s Focus: Notably considers:

    • The content of the story.

    • The construction of the story by the narrator and the social contexts in which they exist.

    • Reference: Josselson, 2012

Data Analysis Process

  • Objective: To develop a profound understanding of dynamic processes from the narratives collected.

  • Aspects of Analysis:

    • Examining both the narratives themselves and the ways in which they are conveyed.

    • Investigating what is unsaid by analyzing the discourse structure and identifying omissions.

  • Methodology: Involves closely reading the participants' narratives, coding them to extract themes, and organizing these themes for a deeper conceptual understanding.

  • Reporting: Narrative research reports prioritize participants' words, offering “thick descriptions” and integrating both raw data and analysis to enrich understanding.

    • Reference: Josselson, 2012 (pp. 8-9)

Case Studies

Key Features

  • Developers:

    • Robert Stake (1995)

    • Robert Yin (2003, 2006)

  • Understanding Cases:

    • A case study approach allows exploration of a phenomenon (a ‘case’) within its context using diverse data sources, supporting a multifaceted understanding.

  • Unit of Analysis: This can encompass an individual, organization, process, or phenomenon.

  • Boundaries: Researchers may define boundaries in regard to time and context to limit the phenomenon studied.

    • Reference: Baxter & Jack, 2008

Information Sources

  • A case study employs multiple and extensive information sources, including:

    • Interviews

    • Documents

    • Audio-visual materials

  • Structure of Case Studies: Typically follows these components:

    • Problem

    • Context

    • Issues

    • Lessons learned

  • Descriptiveness: Significant time is allocated to detailing context/setting along with comprehensive descriptions of events over a period.

    • Reference: Creswell & Poth, 2018

When to Use Case Studies

  • According to Yin (2003), a case study design should be considered when:

    • The study aims to answer “how” and “why” questions.

    • The researcher cannot manipulate the behavior of participant subjects.

    • The study requires understanding contextual conditions believed to be relevant to the phenomenon.

    • Boundaries between phenomenon and context are ambiguous.

    • Reference: Baxter & Jack, 2008

Action Research

Overview

  • Definition: Action research is a form of social research focused on improving social practice (Alasuutari, 1998).

  • Involvement:

    • Participates not only academic researchers but also individuals affected by the social practices being studied.

  • Research Dynamics:

    • Involves individuals researching their own practice or collaborating with others, including practitioners or professional researchers.

  • Driving Force: Motivated by a desire to understand, change, and learn about practices, addressing immediate and relevant problems.

    • Reference: Fernie & Smith, 2010

Characteristics of Action Research

  • Accessibility:

    • Action research can be performed by anyone, and participation may or may not involve multiple individuals.

  • Foundation: Built upon reflection, research, and action, aiming at transforming practice.

  • Focus:

    • Problem-driven and emphasizes participatory approaches, characterized by a cyclical process.

    • Reference: Fernie & Smith, 2010

Participatory Action Research (PAR)

Concept and Roots

  • Definition: An approach that actively engages communities affected by the research topic throughout the research process.

  • Philosophical Inquiry: Challenges traditional notions of knowledge and its role in sustaining existing power structures.

  • Educational Foundation: Rooted in Paulo Freire's work and the concept of praxis—an ongoing cycle involving planning, action, and reflection that fosters community knowledge and critical consciousness.

  • Collaborative Nature: PAR is a collective, self-reflective inquiry conducted by researchers and participants to gain insight into their world and foster change.

    • Reference: Baum et al, 2006; Van De Sande & Schwartz

Key Features of PAR

  • Goal: Aimed at facilitating action towards social justice.

  • Reflective Process: Involves a cyclical, reflective process leading to actionable outcomes.

  • Power Dynamics: Shares authority in the research process—participants become co-researchers and are involved in all stages.

  • Contextual Importance: Recognizes that understanding context is vital in the research process.

    • Reference: Baum et al, 2006; Van De Sande & Schwartz

Required Reading

  • Van De Sande, A., & Schwartz, K. (2011). Chapter 6: Participatory Action Research. Research for Social Justice: A community-based approach. Fernwood Publishing.

Recommended Reading

  • Malena-Chan, R. (2019). Original qualitative research – A narrative model for exploring climate change engagement among young community leaders. Chronic Diseases and Injuries in Canada, 39(4) doi:http://dx.doi.org.library.sheridanc.on.ca/10.24095/hpcdp.39.4.07

  • Taylor Griffiths, C., & Clark, C. (2017). Building police legitimacy in a high demand environment: the case of Yukon, Canada. Policing: An International Journal, 40(3), 560-573.

  • Bhuyan, R., Valmadrid, L., Panlaqui, E., Pendon, N., & Juan, P. (2018). Responding to the Structural Violence of Migrant Domestic Work: Insights from Participatory Action Research with Migrant Caregivers in Canada, Journal of Family Violence, 11(33).

References

  • Baum, F., MacDougall, C., Smith, D. (2006). Participatory Action Research. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 60, 854–857.

  • Baxter, P., & Jack, S. (2008). Qualitative case study methodology: study design and implementation for novice researchers. The Qualitative Report, 13: 544–559.

  • Creswell, J.W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Chapter 5: Five Different Qualitative Studies. Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. Fourth edition. Sage Publications.

  • Fernie, S., & Smith, K. (2010). Action research. In Dahlberg, L., & McCaig, C. Practical research and evaluation: A start-to-finish guide for practitioners (pp. 95-110). London: SAGE Publications Ltd doi: 10.4135/9781446268346

  • Josselson, R. (2012). Narrative Research. In N. Salkind (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Research Design (pp. 869- 874). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications Inc.

  • Van De Sande, A., & Schwartz, K. (2011). Research for Social Justice: A community-based approach. Fernwood Publishing.