Analyzing Narrative Reality

Jaber F. Gubrium - University of Missouri, USA
James A. Holstein - Marquette University, USA

Courses:
Ethnographic Research | Field Research | Intermediate/Advanced Qualitative Research | Narrative Research

June 2008 | 272 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

Analyzing Narrative Reality offers a comprehensive framework for analyzing the construction and use of stories in society. This centers on the interplay of narrative work and narrative environments, viewed as reflexively related. Topics dealing with narrative work include activation, linkage, composition, performance, collaboration, and control. Those dealing with narrative environments include close relationships, local culture, status, jobs, organizations, and intertextuality. Both the texts and everyday contexts of the storying process are considered, with accompanying guidelines for analysis and illustrations from empirical material. Methodological procedures feature interviewing, ethnographic fieldwork, and conversational and textual analysis. The conclusion raises the issue of narrative adequacy, addressing the questions of what is a good story and who is a good storyteller.

Analyzing Narrative Reality is truly multidisciplinary and should appeal to researchers working across the social and behavioral sciences and humanities, as well as to narratively focused researchers in nursing, education, allied and public health, social work, law, counseling, and management/organization studies.

Available Formats

ISBN: 9781412952194	Paperback	Suggested Retail Price: $105.00	Bookstore Price: $84.00
ISBN: 9781483317113	Electronic Version	Suggested Retail Price: $72.00	Bookstore Price: $57.60

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PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

PART I. NARRATIVE REALITY

1. Stories in Society

2. Forms of Analysis

3. Into the Field

PART II. NARRATIVE WORK

4. Activation

5. Linkage

6. Composition

7. Performance

8. Collaboration

9. Control

PART III. NARRATIVE ENVIRONMENTS

10. Close Relationships

11. Local Culture

12. Status

13. Jobs

14. Organizations

15. Intertextuality

PART IV. NARRATIVE ADEQUACY

16. What Is a Good Story?

17. Who Is a Good Storyteller?

AFTERWORD

REFERENCES

This book is one of the few that have a wider perspective on narration. It is not only about classical elements already known from narration analysis, it is also about social contexts and environments in which stories are told as well. It is the next step in narration research because it builds a first bridge from humanities to social sience. As statet in the titel, it combines narration with reality.

Mr Manuel Menke

Department for Media and Educational Technology, University of Augsburg

November 6, 2012

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This book is excellent but more theoretical than what I need for my research course.

Dr Tara Brown

Education Dept, Brandeis University

January 5, 2012

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Excellent book for qualitative researchers.

Ms Zoe Cowie

Nursing , Bournemouth University

September 25, 2011

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In the context of narrative the can be an additional reading text

Mr Timothy Umahi

School of Law, Manchester University

March 9, 2011

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Somewhat too theoretical for the course, but gives interesting viewpoints and some analysis too. it is not focussed on business studies enough, thus its relevance is not the best one. a good book for those student who want to understand narrativity deeper that ordinary business students.

Dr Teppo Sintonen

School of Business and Economics, University of Jyväskylä

May 5, 2010

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The book will be recommended to research methods students.

Mr Muhammad Junaid

Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Essex University

April 15, 2010

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A very useful text that offers a sensible approach for exploring narratives and considering how to read them in research. Have ordered for the library and am recommending to students for use with qualitative analysis on this course and also for a research project course. Will recommend for the EdD course too.

Dr Jennifer Patterson

Education , Greenwich University

November 24, 2009

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An excellent text for anyone undertaking narrative research. Recommended text for students undertaking qualitative data analysis for dissertation

Mary Mitchell

School of Maternal & Child Health, University of the West of England, Bristol

November 3, 2009

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Key features

KEY FEATURES:

Presents and defines a new method termed "narrative ethnography:" Incorporating naturalistic, constructionist, and ethnomethodological impulses, the approach and related methods focus on the everyday narrative activity that unfolds in social interaction, bringing with it an acute awareness of the myriad layers of social context that condition narrative production.
Offers students a view of the combination of epistemological, methodological, procedural, and analytic sensibilities that must be brought to bear to understand narrativity-in-context and the greater practice of qualitative research in general.
Provides four types of demonstrations and illustrations: 1) conceptually-informed empirical material from our own published and unpublished research on narrative practice; 2) related material borrowed from others' research; 3) narratives drawn directly from the media and other everyday sources; and 4) imagined narrative scenes that help shed light on how one might proceed to think about and empirically ground work in the area.