An introduction to narrative research methods in health and social care

Abstract

This chapter is an introduction to some basic principles of narrative research methods and the advantages and challenges of using a narrative approach when conducting research in health and social care. Stories or narratives are fundamental to human communication and, arguably, are essential tools in the practice of health care, as a means for understanding people's social and cultural needs, their experience in maintaining and promoting health, and in the care and treatment of illness. Although some areas of health and social care, such as palliative and end-of-life care, mental health, social, public and organizational health, have either re-discovered the value of story or have always worked with narrative as integral to the healing or health promoting process, there have been challenges to the use of narrative both in the practice of clinical medicine and health care, but also as a research method. Taking a broad sociological and cultural approach, the chapter covers some background to these debates, including the gradual acknowledgement of the apparent value of the story as a means of eliciting information that can complement Western models of technological biomedicine and health care, and improve communication between patient and practitioner.