#life-history

Analyze personal stories and narratives for meaning-making. Theoretical approaches: 1. Structural analysis: examine how stories are constructed (Labov & Waletsky). 2. Thematic analysis: focus on content and themes across stories. 3. Performative analysis: consider audience and purpose of storytelling. 4. Visual narrative analysis: examine images, symbols, metaphors. Data collection: 1. Life history interviews: open-ended prompts about significant experiences. 2. Narrative interviews: 'Tell me the story of...' followed by clarifying questions. 3. Written narratives: journals, blogs, letters, social media posts. Analysis process: 1. Holistic reading: understand story as whole before fragmenting. 2. Structural elements: identify setting, plot, characters, resolution. 3. Turning points: moments of transformation or realization. 4. Coherence and evaluation: how narrator makes sense of experience. Presentation: maintain story integrity, use lengthy quotes, consider multiple interpretations of same narrative.