Narrative discourse analysis and case study method

NARRATIVE DISCOURSE ANALYSIS

Narrative discourse analysis is an unobtrusive methodology that explores the meanings, structure, and function of narrative messages.

PURPOSES

It aims to achieve one or more following four purposes:

ü    Descriptions

ü    Inferences

ü    Interpretations

ü    Criticism

Descriptive analysis is expository .spelling out the meaning, organizational features, and functional of narrative message. Inferential analysis draws conclusions about phenomena external to a message based on salient message characteristics. Interpretation goes beyond inference and speculates about the intrinsic content of a message and its relation to extrinsic phenomena. Criticism involves an explicit discussion of the meanings, structures and functions of the narrative discourse based on a set of evolution criteria.

ISSUES IN NARRATIVE DISCOURSE ANALYSIS

The extent to which researchers engage in description, inference, interpretation and criticism/evaluation depends on methodological perspective, specifically whether they embrace the tenets of science and humanism. Scientist focuses on description and inference, observing communication data and inferring conclusion with regards to other empirically base phenomena.

By contrast, humanists generate description and inference about narrative artifacts, descriptive and inferential data usually serve as starting points for interpreting and evaluating discourse. All narrative discourse analysts must resolve five methodological issues.

§     Quantitative  verses  qualitative data analysis

§     Manifest verses latent message content

§     Probability verses purposive sampling

§     Intrinsic verses extrinsic d a basses

§     Analytical verses critical research

CASE STUDY METHOD

Definition:     Yin (1989) defines a case study as an empirical 46quiry that uses multiple sources of evidence to investigate a contemporary phenomenon within its life context, in which the boundaries between the phenomenon its contexts are not evident.

Simply, a case study uses as many data sources as possible to systematically investigate individuals, groups, organizations or events. Case studies are performed when a researcher needs to understand or explain a phenomenon.

Characteristics:

Merrim (1988) lists four essential characteristics of case study research:

                 PARTICULARISTIC: This means that case study focuses on particular situation, event, program, phenomenon, making it a good method of studying practical, real life problems.

                 DESCRIPTIVE: The result of a case study is a detailed description of topic under study.

                 HEURISTIC: A case study helps people to understand what's being studied. Now interpretations, new perspectives, new meaning and fresh insight are all goals of a case study.

                 INDUCTIVE: Most case studies depend on inductive reasoning. Principles and generalization emerge from an examination of the data. Many case studies attempt to discover new relationships rather than verify existing hypotheses.

CONDUCTING A CASE STUDY

The precise method of conducting a case study has not been as well documented as the more traditional techniques of the survey-and the experiment. Nonetheless, there appear to be five distinctive stages in carrying out a case study design.         

First concern in case study design is what to ask. The case study is most appropriate for questions that begin with "how" or "why". A second design concern is what to analyze. What constitutes a case? A case might be a specific decision, a particular organization at a certain-time, a programme or some other discrete event.

A pilot study is used to refine both the research design and the field procedure. Variables that were not foreseen during the design phase can crop up during the pilot study, and problems with the protocol or with study logistics can be uncovered.

DATA COLLECTION: Documents, which represent a rich data source, may take the form of letters, memo, minutes, agendas, historical records, brochures, pamphlets, posters and so on.

DATA ANALYSIS:  There are no specific formulas or cookbook techniques consequently this stage us most difficult one. Yin has suggested three broad analytic strategies: pattern matching, explanation buildings and time series.

REPORT WRITING: The report can fallow the traditional research study format: problem, methods, findings, and discussions or it can use a non-traditional technique. No mater what form is chosen the researchers must consider the intended audience of the report.