How Can Analytic Narrative Vignettes Allow Complex Representation of Data?

Abstract

Analytic narrative vignettes are exemplars of the data in a study. When confronted with large data sets of narrative and expository text, researchers are faced with the challenge of how to present their data and findings in a way that is easily comprehensible. One strategy for making complex and large amounts of narrative data accessible is to create exemplars, known as analytic narrative vignettes. This chapter frames the theoretical foundation of analytical narrative vignettes in a discussion about when using exemplars may be useful. For qualitative researchers with large data sets of accounts or interviews, exemplars have the potential to capture findings in a more accessible narrative representation of the data. In addition, the narrative vignettes serve as another cycle of analysis. Using the context of my study on teacher educator knowledge, I will outline the decision-making and process of composing vignettes and their usefulness beyond simple representation to capture complex findings. It is important to employ narrative elements that will invite the reader to experience the story. Just a few to consider are setting, narrative viewpoint, dialogue, plot, an awareness of audience, and for narrative vignettes, a lean toward simplicity.

Citation

Lay, C.D. (2024), "How Can Analytic Narrative Vignettes Allow Complex Representation of Data?", Exploring Teacher Educator Knowledge (Advances in Research on Teaching, Vol. 48), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 51-62. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-368720240000048004