Using The Descriptive Narrative

Using the descriptive narrative

Applications to academic studies

Personal Narrative  Social

Function: Telling stories to your friends

 Making

a report: Filing a case to the Discipline Office

Factual narrative Academic Study  Writing

reflections: Theology courses

 Analyzing

Historical Events: - History class - Reading the newspaper

 Research

Application

Research Application

Qualitative studies are rich descriptive and narrative analysis of events or experiences of a phenomenon

Example 1 

A study on the computer experience of first time users. The experience involves interpretations of events and experiences. Findings show four major themes defining the experience. These are (a) the encounter (b) the learning experience (c) becoming a computer literate (d) alterity – the computer as other

Example 2 A

study on “The Meaning of Fear of Failure of Freshman College Students”

Thick descriptions and narrations of fears experience by college freshman. The analysis and finding result to a program to help freshman to cope with the demands of college life.

Other Examples  “Constructions

of survival and coping by women who have survived childhood sexual abuse”

A

gunman case study “ Campus response to a student gunman”