Narrative Inquiry: Experience and Story in Qualitative Research

by D. Jean Clandinin, F. Michael Connelly

"The literature on narrative inquiry has been, until now, widely scattered and theoretically incomplete. Clandinin and Connelly have created a major tour de force. This book is lucid, fluid, beautifully argued, and rich in examples. Students will find a wealth of arguments to support their research, and teaching faculty will find everything they need to teach narrative inquiry theory and methods."--Yvonna S. Lincoln, professor, Department of Educational Administration, Texas A&M University

Understanding experience as lived and told stories--also known as narrative inquiry--has gained popularity and credence in qualitative research. Unlike more traditional methods, narrative inquiry successfully captures personal and human dimensions that cannot be quantified into dry facts and numerical data.

In this definitive guide, Jean Clandinin and Michael Connelly draw from more than twenty years of field experience to show how narrative inquiry can be used in educational and social science research. Tracing the origins of narrative inquiry in the social sciences, they offer new and practical ideas for conducting fieldwork, composing field notes, and conveying research results. Throughout the book, stories and examples reveal a wide range of narrative methods. Engaging and easy to read, Narrative Inquiry is a practical resource from experts who have long pioneered the use of narrative in qualitative research.

Genres: Research, Academic, Nonfiction, Education, Qualitative Research, Reference

240 pages, Paperback

First published December 14, 1999

Reviews

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A foundational text for the emerging inquiry method that is the antidote to the grand narrative of education that ruled North America just over a century. Nothing is standardized for Clandinin and Connelly, to the point of not providing a definition of their field or even guidelines for narrative inquiry. Instead, they want to demonstrate what inquirers like them do by way of building a story about how they came to be scholars of narrative and what it means for their students and research participants. At times, the authors get a bit too touchy over how research critics may perceive narrative inquiry as either poorly-supported or solipsistic, but it is one of more inclusive and mentally stimulating type of research methods that I am glad to have wandered into somewhat blindly and became enamoured with through my comps writing,

[Jamie Forrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first university text that I have read cover to cover. Narrative inquiry is the movement that will push back against standardized testing and keep kids' stories and experiences at the forefront of education. This book just "fit" with my philosophy of teaching and education. Even though this book is about narrative inquiry research, the ideas can easily be applied to the research in action that teachers engage in every day as we search for ways for our students to find success.

[Badger Diva]

informative

[Apostolos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't a book where you are told how to do Narrative Inquiry in a step-by-step manner. That said, it's probably the best book to introduce you to Narrative Inquiry because it's about what Narrative Inquirers do, and the forms that takes. It really helped frame the research approach for me before moving to my next book on the topic.

[Danae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quedé encantada con el "narrative inquiry" técnica cualitativa de investigación en ciencias sociales. Clandinin y Connelly son líderes en esta técnica junto con Catherine Riessman. A modo de resumen muy breve se puede decir que se trata de la búsqueda de lo general a partir de lo particular, específicamente a través del formato texto.
En este libro se pueden encontrar guías para la investigación académica al respecto, desde el proceso de configuración inicial de un proyecto, pasando por la investigación en terreno, el análisis de los textos de campo, hasta la deconstrucción del lector final. Hay una interesante aplicación del concepto de subjetividad que inevitablemente queda emparentado con la teoría del discurso.
Lo recomiendo a quienes se interesen en la teoría crítica y me parece fundamental para los investigadores en ciencias sociales que intentamos doblarle la mano al cientificismo sin perder el rigor teórico.

[Heather Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where to begin? I love the ideas promoted by narrative research methodologies, as proposed by Clandinin and Connelly. As a doc student, however, I am tentative about the reception of a young scholar like myself might receive in job talks if I use this approach. I think, despite books such as this, there are many out there who expect research to be objectively presented and widely generalizable. Narrative inquiry resists both of these, acknowledging that a)objectivity is a myth and b)there is power in the specifics. This text may very well become a cornerstone to my research...if I can find the courage.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been sitting on my shelf for at least a year, and now that I am in the data analysis stage of the narrative research I am doing for my MSW thesis, I'm so glad I finally gave this book my full attention. I think the biggest gift this book gave me was the invitation to 'falling in love' with my research, with the process, the participants and the data.

[Joelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two pretty much started the narrative inquiry movement 20 years ago in Canada. They tell the history of their own journey plus the journey of their early graduate students who are now big names in NI.