Under Construction: How Narrative Elements Shape Qualitative Research

Abstract

This article considers how narrative constructs could be used to strengthen the writing process. The authors outline the narratological devices of plot, point of view, authorial distance, and character, and examine how these concepts can be used when writing with qualitative data. Narratological tools equip the researcher to selectively manage the presentation of data to tell an appropriate story. As part of the research process, scholars should consider what kind of story they seek to tell through the data.