Narrative Methods for the Human Sciences
- Catherine Kohler Riessman - Boston College, USA, Boston University, 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.
Narrative Methods for the Human Sciences provides an accessible framework for researchers — to analyse narrative texts with confidence, empathy, and humility.
"Narrative Methods for the Human Sciences is a well-written, profoundly useful guide to four of the main narrative methods: (a) oral narratives derived from interviews; (b) narratives derived from archival materials such as diaries, letters, and other documents; (c) ethnographic observations as compiled from field notes; and (d) visual media (in combination with text or not) such as videotaped interactions, paintings, and photographs. Not only is she practical and thoughtful about types of narratives, but even more important are the insights that she provides about the alternative methods of transforming narrative materials into published works. [...T]his excellent work will be indispensible for teachers of graduate courses in narrative and other qualitative methods and for research teams wanting to do first-rate narrative research."
To support those doing narrative methods
Continues to be an excellent resource for narrative research students.
useful text for students choosing qualitative methods
Comprehensive, full of examples, a great text for students, and researchers.
Still a core book in narrative research.
Good additional reading for our RM modules
This book would be an important text for those who are contemplating using narrative methods as part of further study such as Masters or PhD.
This offers useful material for thinking through the process of doing narrative interviews.