Writing A Master Narrative: Frame and Story Development

The process of narrative inquiry as a design culminates in the creation of an overarching narrative, known as a master narrative, which paints a clear picture of the phenomenon as it may be understood across the independent narratives used in the study. The approaches to the development of the master narrative vary and have a dependence on the nature of the narrative research and the appropriate presentation of the central story woven through participant transcripts. Even within the intrinsic variation within the development of the master narrative, there exist rules that need to be considered, one of the foremost being the position of the narrator, the researcher, and the potential impacts on the data obtained through gathering and analysis of the research. Given this understanding, three approaches out of many that may be considered for the development of a master narrative may include using an oral history approach, a systematic analysis approach such as that of dynamic plot analysis, or a narrative hybrid analysis approach. While not all encompassing of the many methods one might consider for the development of a master narrative, these approaches appear as substantive examples of the individualistic and comprehensive nature that a student engaging in narrative inquiry might consider in developing a master narrative that respects the stories of participants, illustrates the style and rigor of the researcher, and further moves the understanding of phenomena under investigation forward in research.