Understanding Narrative Inquiry: The Crafting and Analysis of Stories as Research - Paperback

by Jeong-Hee Kim (Author)

This comprehensive, thought-provoking introduction to narrative inquiry in the social and human sciences guides readers through the entire narrative inquiry process--from locating narrative inquiry in the interdisciplinary context, through the philosophical and theoretical underpinnings, to narrative research design, data collection (excavating stories), data analysis and interpretation, and theorizing narrative meaning. Six extracts from exemplary studies, together with questions for discussion, are provided to show how to put theory into practice. Rich in stories from the author′s own research endeavors and incorporating chapter-opening vignettes that illustrate a graduate student′s research dilemma, the book not only accompanies readers through the complex process of narrative inquiry with ample examples, but also helps raise their consciousness about what it means to be a qualitative researcher and a narrative inquirer in particular.

This book has received the 2017 Outstanding Publication Award from the Narrative Research Special Interest Group (SIG) of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). The award honors research-based texts dedicated to advancing the educational process through research or scholarly inquiry.

Author Biography

Jeong-Hee Kim is associate professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Kansas State University. Kim is an experienced narrative inquirer whose research centers on a phenomenological understanding of the stories of school people as a way to inform the areas of curriculum studies and teacher education. She has received two awards--Outstanding Narrative Research Article in 2007 and Outstanding Narrative Theory Article in 2009--from the Narrative Research (Special Interest Group) at the American Educational Research Association (AERA). She has also received the Faculty Excellence in Research/Creative Activities Award from the College of Education at Kansas State University in 2011. Her recent publications can be found in the Journal of Curriculum Studies, International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, and Educational Philosophy and Theory. She currently teaches graduate courses on curriculum theory, narrative inquiry, and action research in education.