Narrative Inquiry: A Research Tradition in Qualitative Research

Abstract

This methodological paper is about narrative inquiry, a research tradition in qualitative research. The paper, first, discusses what narrative inquiry is. Second, major narrative analysis methods are reviewed which are used in narrative inquiry. Third, how narrative inquiry is used in varying ways in the field of teacher education in applied linguistics is examined. The purpose in assessing the field in applied linguistics is to contest the impression that narrative inquiry is a straightforward research methodology. Finally, potential of narrative inquiry and critique on it as a method for understanding and representing lived experiences are discussed.