Narrative Methods for the Human Sciences
- Catherine Kohler Riessman - Boston College, USA
Case Study & Narrative Analysis
Catherine Kohler Riessman provides a lively overview of qualitative research based on interpreting stories. Designed to improve research practice, it provides detailed discussions of four analytic methods: thematic analysis, structural analysis, dialogic/performance analysis, and visual narrative analysis.
Broad in scope, Narrative Methods for the Human Sciences offers concrete guidance for students and established scholars wanting to join the "narrative turn" in social research.
Key Features
" Offers guidance for interviewing and transcription: The author discusses the move from spoken language to written transcript. In the process, she encourages students to be mindful of the texts they construct from dialogues in an interview study.
" Includes visual approaches to data gathering: Riessman takes narrative research beyond its historic reliance on word-based materials. She discusses exemplary research that integrates images-both those made during the research process and others found in archives.
" Presents arguments about validation in case-based research: The book presents several ways to think about credibility in narrative studies, contextualizing validity in relation to epistemology and theoretical orientation of a study.
Intended Audience
This text is designed as a supplement to qualitative research courses taught in graduate departments across the social and behavioral sciences, and as a core book in narrative research courses. It is also useful for academics wanting to learn more about narrative methods.
Excellent resource for this developing edition to qualitative methods.
This book is essential reading for anyone doing narrative research at MA and EdD level. I liked the chapters which explores separately the different approaches to analyse the narratives.
This is a wonderful book; however, it was not quite what we needed.
Provides a solid overview - could be focused more on politics/IR for my course but it will be on my reading list.
An excellent text for those both new to and more experienced in narrative research methods. Clear explanation of techniques and excellent summaries which distinguish, in some detail, the distinctions between narrative and other qualitative approaches.
For the students in my PhD-level qualitative research courses who choose to do narrative studies, this text is a favorite for its conceptual clarity and practical suggestions.
Very well written book and I came away understanding a lot more clearly what narrative research was about!
A sound text to illustrate the value of this approach to research
Reissman is a seminal text for anyone wanting to know more about narrative research. She gives insight into different methods of collecting and analysing data using her own and others experiences. There are plenty of references for further reading
A good, well written and digestible overview of a range of narrative approaches - the perfect first port-of-call for students interested in exploring this approach.