Narrative analysis is a valuable data analysis technique in qualitative research. It is typically used in those studies which have already employed narrative inquiry as a qualitative method. Narrative knowledge is created and constructed through the stories of lived experience and sense-making, the meanings people afford to them, and therefore offers valuable insight into the complexity of human lives, cultures, and behaviours. Narrative analysis uses the ‘story’ as the unit of analysis, in contrast to thematic and other forms of qualitative analysis. Narrative analysis is useful for practitioners and researchers who wish to focus on individual experiences, eg. via collected stories and unstructured interviews. Examples of possible applications include case studies; patients’ experiences of health care services or illness; life stories and experiences of social care clients; victims’ experiences of the criminal justice system.
By the end of the workshop, participants will:
During the course we will cover:
This advanced training course is relevant for those who have undertaken the SRA foundation course on Narratives and Storytelling (or similar course), or who have already completed their own narrative inquiry. It will benefit participants who wish to advance their knowledge of qualitative research methods by exploring the benefits that narrative analysis offers in a range of applied and policy settings and contexts. **Prior knowledge of qualitative research methods and storytelling and narrative inquiry is advisable.
Dr Karen Lumsden is currently Assistant Professor in Criminology at the University of Nottingham and has a PhD in Sociology from the University of Aberdeen. She has over 15 years experience teaching qualitative research methods at postgraduate level and to academics and practitioners. This includes courses at the University of Aberdeen, University of Glasgow, University of Essex and Kingston University, and for the Social Research Association. Karen has also designed and delivered social research methods training for police officers and staff via the East Midlands Policing Academic Collaboration (EMPAC) and for research consultancies. She has authored a number of academic books and journal articles in the areas of sociology and criminology, and on qualitative research methods. Karen is also Chair of the Editorial Board of Sociological Research Online.