Applying Multiple Methods of Systematic Evaluation in Narrative Analysis for Greater Validity and Deeper Meaning

Abstract

Personal narrative is at the heart of how human beings share information, represent identity, and convey ideas. Narrative research is a form of qualitative analysis that assists researchers in gaining insight into the lived experiences of the persons they are studying within their unique life circumstances and contexts. Although many narrative investigations report themes from study data, there is no single, well-defined approach to data analysis in narrative research. In this article, we provide a method for analyzing the data beyond the spoken words by applying Riessman’s thematic, structural, and performance analysis. We describe how applying multiple methods of systematic evaluation to narrative data leads to a deeper and more valid insight into the told stories. The data analysis process outlined in this article contributes to the academic discourse and knowledge supporting the use of multiple methods of systematic evaluation to uncover deeper meaning and thus leading to greater validity of the findings from narrative data.