Aim

To understand the experience of a couple who have experienced a stillbirth.

BASIC CONCEPTS

Narrative
A narrative is a structured account of real or fictional events arranged in a coherent sequence
to communicate meaning. Narratives encompass a wide range of formats, including written
texts, oral storytelling, films, and even non-verbal forms such as visual art and performance.
Narratives are overwritten with moral, evaluative, and other themes which are vital to
understanding how the individual relates to events.
In a narrative, changes occur over a period involving different characters and some form of
action. The term ‘emplotment’ is used to describe how the narrative is put together, including
various plots.

Story
According to Sarbin: “The story has a beginning, middle, and an ending. The story is held
together by recognizable patterns of events called plots. Central to the plot structure are
human predicaments and attempted resolutions.” (Sarbin, 1986, p. 3)
Any discursive mechanism that creates and maintains meaning is considered a story, as is any
meaningful writing. Perceiving all texts as stories obscures the talent and creativity required
for storytelling and diminishes the value of studying stories in organizations. It also ignores
the characteristics that make stories compelling and vivid but also makes them brittle
sense-making tools.

Stories are certain kinds of narrative that, critically, need a plot. They are not just
chronological records of occurrences. Consequently, the plot 'knits events together', enabling
us to understand an event's greater significance than other occurrences (Czarniawska, 1999).
If a story's plot (characters, action, sequencing, dilemmas, etc.) is one of its most important
elements, its second essential element is a fundamental ambiguity: the events and characters
in the plot could be imagined or real, the result of experience or fantasy (Czarniawska, 1999,;
Gabriel, 2000; Ricoeur, 1984). Stories are special in that they have a storyline and depict
reality at the same time because of this creative ambiguity.
Stories say that events do not just happen; rather, they occur to fulfill the criteria of a plot.
They claim to relate to facts that have occurred while also finding a plot or meaning in these
facts. According to Benjamin (1968), they are poetic elaborations of story material that seek
to convey facts as experience rather than facts as information. The ability to manipulate the
story for effect, exaggerate, omit, make connections where none exist, and silence events that
conflict with the plot while claiming to be portraying reality is known as poetic license, and it
is a feature of a psychological contract between the storyteller and his reader. The
justification for all of these poetical interventions is to give the experience a voice.

The impact of stories lies in their ability to make sense of events, offering logical or
emotionally compelling interpretations of situations that might otherwise seem disoriented
and fragmented. A storyteller’s skill lies in weaving together elements in a way that
maintains factual credibility while crafting a meaningful and engaging plot. Different
interpretations of the same events demonstrate how storytelling can shape perception by
selectively highlighting or omitting details.

Storytellers mold events to fit the narrative in various ways, including:

1. Framing – Prioritizing certain characters or events while relegating others to the

background or excluding them.
2. Focusing – Emphasizing specific aspects of the story, drawing attention to particular
events or individuals.
3. Filtering – Deliberately omitting certain details, even if they are closely related to the
central narrative.
4. Fading – Bringing elements into focus temporarily before phasing them out as their
relevance diminishes.
5. Fusing – Merging multiple characters or events into a single entity, sometimes
collapsing time frames.
6. Fitting – Reinterpreting events or characters to align with the overall plot and
thematic direction.

Through these techniques, storytellers shape narratives to enhance their impact, ensuring that
events are not merely recounted but also interpreted in a way that resonates with the
audience. (Gabriel, 2004)
Difference between Narrative and Story

NARRATIVE STORY

A structured account of any event(s) Broader construct which goes beyond

recollection and organises events into a
meaningful framework.

Stories are bound by a plot which revolves Narratives may also involve a plot,
around characters. characters and other elements of a story but
are more connected and structured.

Descriptive: Stories are more likely to focus Interpretive: Narratives encompass not just
on what happened and recounting events in events but experiences and more abstract
an engaging manner. ideas, thus contributing to meaning-making
and identity formation.

Example: A story might state: "I lost my Example: A narrative might interpret the
job, struggled for months, and eventually same story as follows: "This experience
found a better opportunity." shaped me into a stronger person and
changed my perspective on resilience and
self-worth."

Typical Characteristics Of Narratives :

● Narratives are intentionally structured, with a deliberate sequence, emphasis, and

pacing that contribute to their coherence. Even in oral storytelling, where spontaneity
plays a role, there is often an element of preparation or rehearsal. However, similar
structuring can be found in other forms of discourse, such as descriptions, prayers, or
academic writings.

● Dynamic and adaptable: They change over time and how individuals construct
narratives is also influenced by their audience and intended purpose. The same story
may be told differently at different times or in different settings/contexts.
● Narratives typically follow a trajectory, moving toward a specific development or
conclusion. They are expected to have a beginning, middle, and end, offering a sense
 of progression and resolution. Unlike isolated descriptions or expository accounts,
narratives possess an inherent forward motion.

● Additionally, every narrative has a teller, whether explicitly present or subtly woven
into the background. This highlights the communicative nature of narratives, which
require both a speaker and an audience. Unlike neutral descriptions, narratives
actively shape the listener’s perception through storytelling choices.

● One distinguishing feature of narratives is their use of displacement, meaning they

can refer to events or experiences removed from the present time and space of both
the storyteller and the audience. This ability to recall and reconstruct past events is a
key function of storytelling, setting narratives apart from simple commentary or
description.

● Narratives communicate things about the reality of people’s lives as they live them.
In other words, one could treat narratives as the person saying something about the
real experiences of their lives (e.g. Crossley, 2000).

● Narrative provides a structure to show how things change or evolve from disorder to
order. Therefore, A narrative involves some sort of transformation which occurs
over time, that helps individuals make sense of events and restore meaning to their
lives.

● Narratives include major plots, some subplots, and diversions and digressions from
the main story. The word ‘emplotment’ is used to describe the ways in which these
various parts of a narrative are put together to make a coherent story. By organizing
events through emplotment, the narrative helps in understanding how different
experiences are connected, making sense of life’s complexities.

● Narratives involve relationships between the exceptional or unusual events of the

story and what is ordinary; signifying that the former stands out as extraordinary only
when contrasted with everyday, ordinary experiences. (Bruner, 1986, 1990)

● Narratives represent people’s lives and identities as shaped by social context and
personal experiences. They are embedded in the contextual references, reflecting the
cultural norms, language practices, and social interactions from which they emerge,
 thus portraying life events through both individual perspectives and shared cultural
frameworks.

Narrative Analysis
Narrative analysis is a qualitative research method that examines the ways in which
individuals construct and interpret stories to make sense of their experiences, identities, and
social realities. Central to narrative analysis is the concept of the storied self, which suggests
that people shape their sense of self through the narratives they construct and share. These
narratives are not just personal but are influenced by social interactions, cultural contexts, and
historical circumstances (Murray, 2003). Storytelling is a fundamental human practice that
allows individuals to impose order on the complexity of their lives, making sense of chaotic
or significant experiences such as trauma, illness, or life transitions.

A narrative is essentially a spoken or written account of events that are connected by an

underlying time dimension. However, for an account to be meaningful in narrative analysis, it
must have a coherent structure, typically including a beginning, middle, and end, with
identifiable patterns of events or plots (Sarbin, 1986). Through storytelling, individuals
navigate disruptions in their lives, such as trauma or illness, by creating order and meaning.
For example, narratives about illness are commonly studied to understand how individuals
make sense of medical conditions and the disruptions they cause (Broyard, 1992). The
process of telling and retelling a story is not static—narratives evolve over time, shaped by
new experiences, social influences, and cultural expectations.

Narrative analysis is an interdisciplinary field, drawing from psychology, sociology,

linguistics, and even literary studies. The work of scholars such as Jerome Bruner, Theodore
Sarbin, and Kenneth and Mary Gergen has been instrumental in shaping narrative psychology
and narrative analysis. Given its broad application, narrative analysis lacks a single, unified
method, and different approaches emphasize various aspects of storytelling. For instance,
some researchers focus on the structure of narratives, while others examine how narratives
are shaped by social and cultural forces.

How is Narrative Analysis different from Analysis of Narratives?

Narrative research, as conceptualized by Polkinghorne (1995), operates through two distinct

analytical approaches: analysis of narratives and narrative analysis. These approaches
differ in their objectives, processes, and underlying cognitive frameworks. Understanding this
distinction is crucial as it highlights how narrative inquiry integrates both qualitative
research methods and arts-based approaches to studying human experiences.

Analysis of Narratives: Identifying Common Patterns

The analysis of narratives, also known as the paradigmatic mode of analysis, focuses on
organizing storied data into general themes, categories, or conceptual frameworks. This
approach relies on paradigmatic cognition, a logical and structured way of understanding
experiences by identifying patterns and shared characteristics. Researchers using this method
aim to classify narratives under broader theoretical constructs, thereby producing
generalizable knowledge.

This type of analysis can be conducted in three ways:

1. Theory-Driven Approach: Concepts are applied based on pre-existing theories.

2. Inductive Approach: Themes emerge organically from the data, similar to grounded
theory.
3. Predefined Focus Approach: Categories are determined before data collection, such
as studying teachers’ experiences by segmenting their responses into predefined
themes like "first-year challenges" or "teaching strategies."

The findings in this approach are presented in the form of thematic descriptions,
emphasizing commonalities across multiple stories while downplaying the unique aspects of
each individual’s experience.

Narrative Analysis: Constructing a Meaningful Story

In contrast, narrative analysis, or the narrative mode of analysis, reconstructs fragmented

data into a coherent and meaningful story rather than extracting common themes. This
approach employs narrative cognition, which processes human experiences through
storytelling, focusing on sense-making rather than categorization. Instead of breaking down
narratives into themes, researchers weave them together into a structured, holistic account
that retains the depth and individuality of personal experiences.

Narrative analysis is often used in biographical research, life histories, ethnographic studies,
and phenomenological research, where the goal is to provide a rich, in-depth understanding
of an individual’s lived experiences. For example, rather than categorizing various teachers’
challenges, a researcher might craft a detailed personal narrative of one teacher’s professional
journey, presenting their struggles and growth as a compelling story.

Key Differences Between the Two Approaches

While both methods are integral to narrative research, they differ fundamentally in purpose
and execution:

● Analysis of narratives extracts patterns and generalizable themes, making it useful

for thematic or qualitative content analysis.
● Narrative analysis reconstructs stories to capture the depth and complexity of
personal experiences, providing a more holistic view of an individual’s journey.

The distinction aligns with Bruner’s (1986) two modes of thought: paradigmatic thinking,
which focuses on logic and classification, and narrative thinking, which emphasizes
storytelling and meaning-making. While analysis of narratives seeks to generalize, narrative
analysis aims to particularize by preserving the uniqueness of each story.

The above figure depicts- The analysis of narrative versus narrative analysis.
When to use Narrative Analysis?

Narrative analysis is a qualitative research approach used when data possess a story-like
quality, encompassing personal accounts such as diaries, autobiographies, and narrative
interviews (McAdams, 1993). Unlike a mere chronological account of life events, narrative
data are rich and detailed, often including personal reflections. Narrative psychology
contrasts with positivist psychology, which often employs mechanical or scientist metaphors
that reduce human behavior to stimulus–response units. Instead, the narrative metaphor
portrays individuals as complex beings who construct meaning from their experiences within
social and cultural contexts (McAdams, 1993). Narratives do more than document past
events; they structure self-identity and moral understanding. Psychologists often rely on
narrative interviews, particularly structured procedure, to elicit meaningful and detailed
narratives rather than casual conversations. Various sources, such as diaries and
autobiographies, also serve as narrative data.

Narrative analysis seeks to answer questions about how people construct and interpret their
experiences through storytelling. It addresses why and how events unfold in a particular way
and how individuals make sense of their lives within social and cultural contexts (Howitt,
2019). Narrative analysis generates contextual, in-depth knowledge about human
experiences. It captures the nuances of self-identity, cultural values, and moral frameworks
embedded in personal stories. This method provides insight into how individuals create
coherence in their lives, navigate challenges, and attribute meaning to their past and future
(Kim, 2016). Unlike abstract generalizations, it presents lived experiences in a way that
resonates with readers and fosters empathy.

Not all qualitative data qualify as narratives because narratives have distinct structural and
functional characteristics that set them apart from other qualitative data forms. While
qualitative data, such as interview transcripts, observations, or open-ended survey responses,
capture experiences and perspectives, they do not necessarily follow a coherent, story-like
structure. Narratives are defined by their temporal sequence, causality, and human interest
(Howitt, 2019). They are structured accounts that organize events meaningfully, providing
insight into how individuals interpret their experiences with a beginning, middle, and end,
rather than simply presenting a chronological account (Howitt, 2019).
Additionally, various qualitative methods analyze narratives differently. Thematic analysis,
grounded theory, discourse analysis, and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) can
be used to examine narratives, but they do not necessarily focus on the construction and
meaning-making process unique to narrative analysis. For instance, thematic analysis
identifies recurring patterns across data without considering the unfolding plot or individual
meaning-making process, while discourse analysis examines language use rather than the
structure of a story (Howitt, 2019).

Thus, while qualitative research often captures narratives within its data, not all qualitative
data form coherent narratives. Narrative analysis specifically seeks to understand how
individuals construct meaning through storytelling, distinguishing it from more generic
qualitative approaches.

What Kind of Questions Are Addressed by Narrative Analysis?

Narrative analysis is most useful in answering questions revolving around how individuals
construct and express their experiences through storytelling. Thus, it is particularly suited for
examining issues related to identity formation, personal transformation, and social
interactions. For example, researchers may investigate:
● How do people perceive and describe key life experiences?
● How do narratives reflect cultural and societal values?
● In what ways do individuals use storytelling to make sense of challenges or traumatic
events?
● How do personal narratives influence identity and self-concept?
Narrative analysis allows researchers to explore not only what is being said but also how it is
structured and presented. This includes analyzing the thematic elements, tone, and imagery
used in storytelling. It provides insight into the ways individuals shape their self-narratives
based on their social and psychological experiences.

What Kind of Knowledge Does Narrative Analysis Produce?

Narrative analysis primarily yields knowledge about the ways people construct meaning in
their lives. It goes beyond factual accounts and examines how individuals interpret their
experiences in the light of their personal and cultural frameworks. Using this method,
researchers can understand the structure and function of personal stories, the role of
narratives in establishing a sense of self and the influence of broader cultural and social
narratives on personal identity.

By analyzing narratives, researchers gain a better understanding of the emotional and

cognitive processes involved in storytelling. Narratives do more than recount past events;
they also provide individuals with a sense of coherence and purpose, helping them make
sense of their lives.
Furthermore, narrative analysis helps in identifying patterns in how people narrate personal
experiences, revealing both individual and collective aspects of storytelling. For instance,
illness narratives often depict a journey from disorder to recovery, reflecting the underlying
need for individuals to construct meaning in difficult circumstances.

Approaches to Narrative Analysis

Horton-Salway (2001) identifies three broad types of narrative analysis:

1. Realist Approach – Treats narratives as reflections of actual events and experiences,

assuming they provide insight into an objective reality.
2. Cognitivist Approach – Focuses on how individuals construct and frame their
narratives to give meaning to their experiences.
3. Interactivist Approach – Examines the social contexts in which narratives are
co-constructed, emphasizing the dynamic nature of storytelling.

Similarly, Murray (2000) proposes four levels of narrative analysis:

1. Personal Level – The narrative expresses the individual’s lived experience,

emphasizing personal meaning-making.
2. Interpersonal Level – The narrative is shaped through dialogue and interaction,
highlighting the role of communication.
3. Positional Level – Focuses on the social positions of the narrator and the audience,
exploring power relations and identity.
4. Societal Level – Considers how narratives reflect and reinforce broader cultural
narratives, linking personal stories to collective experiences.

Narrative analysis is a very widely used term not exclusive to qualitative research (Garson,
2013). There are several different ways of understanding narrative, some of which have their
origin in linguistics and sociology. Given the wide interdisciplinary interest in narrative, there
is no single, central method of narrative analysis.

Types of Narrative Analysis

Hiles and Cermák (2008) propose a model called Narrative Oriented Inquiry (NOI), which
outlines six interpretative approaches for narrative analysis:

1. Sjuzet-Fabula: Distinguishes between the fabula (events recounted) and the sjuzet
(how the events are narrated, including emphasis, asides, and interruptions). Analysts
underline the sjuzet in transcripts to examine its role in shaping the story.
2. The Holistic-Content Perspective: Focuses on the events in the narrative,
identifying key themes that recur and contribute to the core narrative, which
represents the central meaning of the story.
3. The Holistic-Form Perspective: Examines the narrative’s structure rather than
content, categorizing it into Romance (affirmation of social order), Comedy (breaking
and restoring order), Tragedy (loss of order), or Satire (cynical challenge to order).
4. The Categorical-Content Perspective: A qualitative content analysis that identifies
themes grounded in the data, rather than imposed by the researcher.
5. The Categorical-Form Perspective: Focuses on specific recurring features in the
narrative (e.g., crying) and their relation to the overall structure of the narrative.
 6. The Critical Narrative Analysis Perspective: A social constructionist approach
(Emerson & Frosh, 2004) that examines how viewpoints, meanings, and discourses
are built, particularly in sensitive subjects like sexually abusive boys’ narratives. It
highlights both personal sense-making and the social discourses that shape such
accounts.

Additionally, Elliot Mishler (1995) presents a broader typology of narrative analysis,

emphasizing the depth and diversity of the narrative approach:

● Reference and temporal order: The “telling” and the “told” – This examines the
relationship between the sequence of events and their presentation.
● Textual coherence and structure: Narrative strategies – This focuses on linguistic
structures, coherence, and communicative strategies, primarily in spoken discourse.
● Narrative functions: Contexts and consequences – This analyzes stories within
cultural, social, and psychological contexts to understand their broader significance.
Narrative Analysis of Fiction
If data contains personal narratives it might be suitable for analysis. These narratives,
according to Hiles and Cermak (2008) can be of the following types :
a. Oral versus written narratives;
b. Fictional versus historical / personal narratives;
c. Life story narratives versus isolated event narratives;
d. Crafted versus spontaneous narratives;
e. Public versus private narratives

Narratives allow individuals to experience situations by imagining alternative futures and

making sense of the world (Mattingly, 1991), and fiction-based research serves as a
legitimate form of narrative research practice that does the same.

(i) Fiction, as a form of social research, also seeks to “build knowledge and meaning; access,
express, and negotiate truths; and effectively communicate those ‘truths’ to relevant
audiences” (Leavy, 2013);
(ii) The characters in fiction are never entirely true or completely invented, as their
experiences, emotions, thoughts, values, etc. are “real” (Franklin, 2011); and
(iii) The settings and situations are all derived from the “real world” (Banks, 2008; Leavy,
2012).

Additionally, Chase (2005) and Leavy (2013) argue that fiction, as a transformative research
practice, is a form of social research because it aligns with three key goals found in social
research, which are:

1. Portraying the complexity of lived experience or shedding light on human experience

(connecting the particular and the universal, or the micro and macro levels);
2. Promoting empathy and self-reflection (as part of a compassionate, engaged, or social
justice-oriented research approach);
3. Disrupting dominant ideologies or stereotypes (which includes fostering critical
consciousness and raising awareness) (Leavy, 2013).
Fiction as a Rigorous Data Source in Research

Fiction-based research is a powerful qualitative method that serves as both a mode of inquiry
and a data source, offering unique insights into human experiences. Scholars have
increasingly recognized fiction’s ability to challenge dominant narratives, engage wider
audiences, and provide nuanced understandings of social realities (Leavy, 2013; Richardson,
2000). The strengths of fiction as a data source are as follows :

1. Endless Possibilities and Reflexivity: Fiction allows researchers to access imagined,

inaccessible, or silenced perspectives, making it a valuable tool for exploring
counterfactuals, historical injustices, and lived experiences of marginalized groups
(Barone & Eisner, 2011). It enables polyvocality, where multiple interpretations
emerge, fostering deeper engagement with social phenomena (Gannon, 2006).
2. Engagement and Transformative Potential: Narrative and storytelling are
intrinsically compelling compared to traditional research reports. Fiction facilitates
affective engagement, enabling readers to inhabit the subjectivities of characters
(Clough, 2002). This experiential dimension aligns with critical pedagogy and social
justice research, allowing fiction to function as a tool for raising critical consciousness
(Freire, 1970).
3. Wider Reach and Accessibility: Unlike traditional research reports that rely on
technical language and theoretical abstraction, fiction appeals to a broad audience,
bridging academia and the public sphere (Leavy, 2015). This makes it an effective
medium for disseminating research findings beyond academic circles (Knowles &
Cole, 2008).
4. Bearing Witness to Lived Experiences: Fiction immerses readers in embodied,
emotional, and sensory experiences, making it a powerful tool for bearing witness to
social injustices (Ellis & Bochner, 2006). The use of autoethnographic fiction allows
researchers to foreground personal narratives while maintaining analytic depth
(Denzin, 2014).
Fiction as a Rigorously Validated Research Method

Despite criticisms of fiction as subjective and unscientific, scholars argue that rigor in
fiction-based research is achieved through:

● Verisimilitude: Fiction captures the complexity of real-life social interactions in ways

that traditional data representation cannot (Brady, 2009). The use of third-person
narration and character interiority allows for a multi-layered understanding of social
issues (Sparkes, 2002).
● Aesthetic Depth and Specificity: Fiction-based research requires precise language,
narrative coherence, and self-reflexivity, ensuring credibility and impact (de Freitas,
2008).
● Intertextual Analysis: Scholars have used fiction as archival material to study
cultural discourses, ideologies, and historical transitions (McCall, 2011).

Fiction is not just a literary form but a legitimate data source that enhances theoretical
inquiry, ethical reflexivity, and social critique in research. It provides an alternative
epistemology that challenges positivist frameworks while enriching our understanding of
human experiences. As Leavy (2013) argues, fiction-based research is not merely an artistic
endeavor but a transformative methodological approach with the potential to redefine
knowledge production in the social sciences.

Strength and Weaknesses of Narrative Analysis

Strengths

1. Holistic Understanding of Individuals: Narrative analysis adopts a non-reductionist

perspective, meaning it does not break down human behavior into small, isolated units like
stimulus-response patterns in positivist psychology. Instead, it considers the entire individual
within their social environment. This holistic view allows researchers to explore how
different life experiences interconnect to shape a person’s identity and behavior.

2. Focus on Self and Identity: Unlike methods that focus on external behaviors or language
structures, narrative analysis is deeply concerned with how people construct and understand
their identities. It explores the stories individuals tell about themselves and how these
narratives shape their sense of self over time. This makes it particularly useful in personality
psychology, psychotherapy, and identity studies.

3. Contextual and Cultural Sensitivity: Narrative analysis acknowledges that stories are
shaped by the social, historical, and cultural contexts in which they are told. This approach
helps researchers understand how societal influences—such as cultural norms, family
dynamics, or historical events—affect personal narratives. For example, individuals from
different cultures may have distinct ways of narrating their life experiences, and narrative
analysis can uncover these variations.

4. Emphasis on Meaning-Making: Unlike traditional psychological approaches that focus

on measurable behavior or cognitive processes, narrative analysis prioritizes subjective
meaning-making. It looks at how individuals make sense of their past, present, and future
through storytelling. This focus makes it especially useful in areas like mental health, trauma
research, and life transitions, where understanding personal meaning is crucial.

5. Integration with Therapeutic Practices: Narrative-based therapies, such as those

developed by Michael White and David Epston, help individuals rewrite or reframe their
personal stories to foster positive psychological change. For instance, in therapy, someone
who sees themselves as a failure may be guided to construct a new narrative that highlights
their resilience and strengths. This application demonstrates the practical and transformative
power of narrative analysis.

6. Ethical and Moral Considerations: Since narratives naturally involve moral evaluations,
they provide insights into a person’s values, beliefs, and ethical decision-making. For
example, a person recounting a difficult life event may frame themselves as a hero, victim, or
survivor, revealing their moral perspective on the situation. This makes narrative analysis
valuable for studying moral psychology, ethics, and social justice issues.

7. Flexibility and Depth: Narrative analysis is less structured than other qualitative methods,
allowing researchers to explore personal experiences in greater depth. It provides rich,
detailed accounts that may be overlooked by more rigid analytical approaches. This
flexibility makes it suitable for studying complex, subjective experiences, such as grief,
identity transformation, or cultural adaptation.

8. Exploratory Potential: Since narrative analysis is not as widely used as some other
qualitative methods, it remains an area of ongoing development and innovation. Researchers
who engage with this method can contribute to new theoretical advancements and expand its
application in psychology and other fields. Young researchers, in particular, have an
opportunity to pioneer new approaches in narrative research.

Weaknesses

1. Challenges in undertaking narrative analysis : it can be hard to separate individual

stories for analysis because narratives often overlap and lack clear boundaries. Speakers may
also change topics frequently, leading to fragmented or loosely connected accounts rather
than clear, standalone stories. Sometimes, narratives are too brief or lack sufficient detail,
making them challenging to identify and analyze effectively.

2. Reliance on Single Interviews: Many narrative studies depend on a single interview,

which may not provide a comprehensive understanding of a person’s life. Researchers need to
be cautious and acknowledge that one session may not capture the full depth or complexity of
an individual’s experiences.

3. Limited Adoption : Narrative analysis is not as widely used as other qualitative methods
of inquiry. Other qualitative inquiry frameworks such as thematic analysis(Braun &
Clark,2006) and grounded theory (Corbin & Strauss (2008), have had better adoption
among qualitative researchers and have been perceived as being more accessible and
methodologically clear.