Validity Issues in Narrative Research Design
Since narrative research depends heavily on the data collected from participant stories, the validity of the stories can greatly impact the outcome. Participants may present a "false story", or purposefully distort the real story. This results in false data being used for the narrative research. Participants may also be unable or unwilling to give the complete story, due to trauma or limitations on their memory. Researchers should be aware of these issues, and can potentially compensate by coorelating data from multiple sources, fact checking, and careful review of participants.
"Ownership" Issues of the Narrative
Narratives may involve people or events that the researcher does not have permission to to tell. The issue of ownership can be very complex, and can lead to delays or unintended consequences of the research. Researchers should try to seek the permission of not only participants, but of the people that the narrative research may directly impact.
Additionally, the researcher runs the risk of transposing their own perspective for that of the particpants. The act of "restorying" can inadvertantly cause the loss of the participants "voice". Using direct quotes from the participant and careful attention to the settings and events told can help to aleviate loss of perspective.
Additionally, the researcher runs the risk of transposing their own perspective for that of the particpants. The act of "restorying" can inadvertantly cause the loss of the participants "voice". Using direct quotes from the participant and careful attention to the settings and events told can help to aleviate loss of perspective.
Participant Impacts
Due to the social nature of many narrative research studies, participants can be negatively impacted by participation. This can occur either directly by being identified within the study, or indirectly by the influence a research report may have on their culture or lifestyle. Researchers can create a more "composite" narrative (if multiple participants are used), or at the least anonymize the participants.
The researcher must also be aware that the relationship they develop between themselves and the participants should be reciprocal. Researchers should not be the only one to gain from the study, and should "give back" in some way.
The researcher must also be aware that the relationship they develop between themselves and the participants should be reciprocal. Researchers should not be the only one to gain from the study, and should "give back" in some way.
Additional Resources...
R. Josselson (2007). "The ethical attitude in narrative research" - A very comprehensive review of the state of ethics in narrative research.