Narrative Methods for the Human Sciences

by Catherine Kohler Riessman

The research literature on narrative has grown exponentially over the last 20 years. No longer the province only of literary study, the "narrative turn" has penetrated almost every human anthropology, sociology, psychology, history, and others. However, although insights about individual lives may be compelling, it does not mean that the "story" can "speak for itself" and still be a useful procedure. Is there a way that researchers can explain their analytic procedures or representational choices when they present a narrative study? Narrative Methods for the Human Sciences attempts to provide guidance on this situation. Aimed at providing the rigor needed to advance applied narrative analysis, Catherine Riessman provides an explanation and guideline to readers * Presentation of and reliance on detailed transcripts of interview excerpts * Methods for analyzing the structural features of discourse * Analysis of the co-production of narratives through the dialogic exchange between interviewer and participant. After completing this book, readers will be able to perform a narrative study that can be defended as a systematic form of inquiry and provide a criteria for validation of their narrative study.

Genres: Research, Academic, Grad School, Qualitative Research, Narrative

262 pages, Paperback

First published December 7, 2007

Reviews

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinated by the variety of narratives that have been used in research, with lots of familiar names throughout my studies appearing on Riessman's page despite many of them having little to do with the methodology of narrative inquiry. And yet, she doesn't go so far in saying that all research is the construction of a story worth studying. Hard to place, in the end, how these methods will be applied in circles outside the human sciences, and even within there is still the naming game that goes on with research: who's in and who's out. As long as you are not a patriarchal first-worlder who objectifies everyone who isn't, you are in her good books.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

2/10/13 ** Very useful as I revisit dissertation data. Clearly written with excellent exemplars. Riessman has "unpacked" others' research to illustrate how people have applied narrative analysis methods.

[Zachary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an interesting and certainly useful look at the ins and outs of narrative methods. My main complaints are two: first, the form of the book was dry and made it look and feel like a textbook, which is never an enjoyable reading experience; second, it felt to me that some of the main points in the later analysis chapters that tried to touch back on areas from the first couple of overview chapters were muddled. Maybe that's a consequence of me reading the book a bit more slowly than usual, but I found that there was less connection between earlier ideas and later ones than maybe was hoped for. Overall still a very useful methodological book, and great to have on the shelf for practical use.

[Kei · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for those who want to learn about qualitative research, particularly the narrative analysis method.

[Ida Aasebøstøl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kort og nyttig om både muntlige, skriftlige og visuelle data.

[Joelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of "how-to"s for the fledgling narrative inquirer.

[Aengus · Rating 3 out of 5]

More an overview than the in-depth book I was anticipating but a good introduction to narrative methodologies.

[Nadia Rylander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book on methods of narrative analysis.