Narrative Inquiry as a Dissertation Research Method

By Dr. Sarah L., DBA in Strategic Management. Reviewed by Dr. Robert K.. 2025-09-18.

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Key takeaways

• Narrative inquiry preserves the wholeness of experience rather than fragmenting data
• Use open-ended story prompts rather than structured interview questions
• Work with a small number of participants (3-10) studied in considerable depth
• Supplement interviews with documents, artifacts, and researcher field notes
• Choose a representation strategy that honors voice while protecting anonymity
• Consent is ongoing throughout the research relationship, not a one-time event

Understanding Narrative Inquiry

Narrative inquiry is a qualitative research method that uses stories as both the phenomenon under study and the method of investigation. Rooted in the work of Clandinin and Connelly, it recognizes that humans make sense of their experiences through narrative, we live storied lives and tell stories to make meaning of those lives.

Unlike other qualitative methods that may fragment data into codes and categories, narrative inquiry preserves the wholeness of experience. It attends to temporality (how events unfold over time), sociality (the interplay of personal and social conditions), and place (the physical contexts where events occur).

Narrative inquiry is particularly suited for research questions about lived experience, identity, professional development, life transitions, and meaning-making. It's widely used in education, nursing, social work, counseling, and organizational studies. If your research question asks 'what is the experience of...' or 'how do people make sense of...', narrative inquiry may be an excellent methodological choice.

Data Collection in Narrative Inquiry

The primary data source in narrative inquiry is the narrative interview, an extended, conversational interview that invites participants to tell their stories. Unlike structured interviews with predetermined questions, narrative interviews use open-ended prompts that encourage storytelling: 'Tell me about your experience with...' or 'Walk me through what happened when...'

Conduct multiple interviews with each participant to develop depth and trust. The first interview often captures the broad story; subsequent interviews explore specific episodes, probe for meaning, and invite reflection on initial narratives. Allow 60-90 minutes per interview and build in time for relationship development.

Supplement interviews with other narrative materials: journals, letters, photographs, artifacts, field notes from observations, and documents. These additional sources provide context and triangulation. Create field texts (research journals) documenting your own reflections, observations, and evolving understanding of each participant's story.

Narrative inquirers typically work with a small number of participants (3-10) studied in depth. The goal is not generalizability but richness and resonance. Your committee should understand that quality of engagement matters more than quantity of participants.

Analysis and Representation

Narrative analysis can take several forms. Narrative thematic analysis identifies themes across stories while preserving narrative structure. Structural analysis examines how stories are constructed, what gets told, what's left out, and how the narrative is organized. Performative analysis considers how and why stories are told in particular ways.

One powerful approach is restorying: taking participants' told stories and retelling them in chronological sequence, identifying key turning points, tensions, and resolutions. This involves extensive engagement with transcripts, moving between parts and whole, and constructing research texts that honor participants' experiences.

Representation is a critical consideration. How will you present participants' stories in your dissertation? Options include: individual narrative portraits (extended accounts of each participant), composite narratives (blending elements from multiple participants), or thematic presentations with narrative threads. Each approach has strengths and limitations regarding voice, anonymity, and analytical depth.

Address ethical considerations unique to narrative inquiry: the relational nature of the research means participants may feel vulnerable sharing personal stories. Negotiate the final text with participants when possible, and consider how publication might affect them. Informed consent in narrative inquiry is ongoing, not a one-time event.