Transformative Learning: Narrative Analysis or Analysis of Narratives?

This study used narrative inquiry to observe the occurrence and nature of transformative learning in a management development programme. The methodology of using participant narratives comes with several challenges for the researcher to remain true to the expressed story. Thus, by adding another ste...

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Main Authors: Jane Robertson, James Lappeman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-06-01
Series:International Journal of Qualitative Methods
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251353433
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author Jane Robertson
James Lappeman
author_facet Jane Robertson
James Lappeman
author_sort Jane Robertson
collection DOAJ
description This study used narrative inquiry to observe the occurrence and nature of transformative learning in a management development programme. The methodology of using participant narratives comes with several challenges for the researcher to remain true to the expressed story. Thus, by adding another step in moving from narrative analysis to the analysis of narratives, this paper provides a novel perspective on qualitative research of this nature. The application of McCormack’s four lenses of process, context, moments and language provided additional insight into understanding the participants’ lived experience of transformative learning. The use of thematic maps and thematic networks were also incorporated to create visual representations of the themes, and to keep the story intact. These too are unfamiliar in most versions of narrative analysis.
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spelling doaj-art-a6d8342ebcca420ba391d4dba97bc0d32025-08-20T03:46:57ZengSAGE PublishingInternational Journal of Qualitative Methods1609-40692025-06-012410.1177/16094069251353433Transformative Learning: Narrative Analysis or Analysis of Narratives?Jane RobertsonJames LappemanThis study used narrative inquiry to observe the occurrence and nature of transformative learning in a management development programme. The methodology of using participant narratives comes with several challenges for the researcher to remain true to the expressed story. Thus, by adding another step in moving from narrative analysis to the analysis of narratives, this paper provides a novel perspective on qualitative research of this nature. The application of McCormack’s four lenses of process, context, moments and language provided additional insight into understanding the participants’ lived experience of transformative learning. The use of thematic maps and thematic networks were also incorporated to create visual representations of the themes, and to keep the story intact. These too are unfamiliar in most versions of narrative analysis.https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251353433
spellingShingle Jane Robertson
James Lappeman
Transformative Learning: Narrative Analysis or Analysis of Narratives?
International Journal of Qualitative Methods
title Transformative Learning: Narrative Analysis or Analysis of Narratives?
title_full Transformative Learning: Narrative Analysis or Analysis of Narratives?
title_fullStr Transformative Learning: Narrative Analysis or Analysis of Narratives?
title_full_unstemmed Transformative Learning: Narrative Analysis or Analysis of Narratives?
title_short Transformative Learning: Narrative Analysis or Analysis of Narratives?
title_sort transformative learning narrative analysis or analysis of narratives
url https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251353433
work_keys_str_mv AT janerobertson transformativelearningnarrativeanalysisoranalysisofnarratives
AT jameslappeman transformativelearningnarrativeanalysisoranalysisofnarratives