Research is broadly divided into two categories: qualitative and quantitative. Within each of those categories are multiple designs and methods. Among the qualitative methodologies is narrative inquiry.

Narrative inquiry is a qualitative research method that explores and interprets the lives of a particular individual(s) through the stories of the individual(s). The goal of narrative inquiry is to make meaning through connecting small parts to a whole from the observations and stories of the individual(s) being studied.  Narrative inquiries are similar to phenomenology, though narrative inquiries do not delve into the emotional level of meaning as does phenomenology. The primary sources of data are interviews with and observations of the participants. However, data may also be gathered through written histories, questionnaires, journals, logs, photos, or other forms. Narrative inquiry is suited to the social sciences and education.

Narrative inquiry will generate vast amounts of unstructured information from highly varied types of sources. Thus, the greatest challenges in narrative inquiry are validating the data from writings, observations, and other forms and subsequently making meaning from these varied forms of data. Similar to ethnographic studies, it is through the unexpected connections that arise from the plethora of collected data that narrative inquiry makes the most profound contributions to the body of research. Though the coding should not be done at the time of data collection so that a closed set of data is not assumed, the researcher must still be diligent in the management of the gathered data in order to make appropriate connections and provide relevant insights.

Ethnography is but one form of research design that is suitable and meaningful for dissertation research. Additional designs will be reviewed later in this series. In all cases, doctoral learners are advised to have relevant conversations with their dissertation committee and particularly with their methodologist and chair to determine the best design to address the research questions of the proposed dissertation study.