The Power of Storytelling in Qualitative Research
Exploring the intersection of poetry, narrative, and qualitative research.
“Your mind will take the shape of what you frequently hold in thought for the human spirit is colored by such impressions.” - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
ATTN Qualitative Inquisitor:
Welcome back to The Qualitative Inquisition!
In this edition, I briefly discuss the power of storytelling that emerges through qualitative social science research. This is a big subject and I hope to embed it within the topics to follow in the next few newsletters.
In the previous edition, we delved into the reasons behind the use of qualitative methods in social science research, uncovering the depth and richness they bring to our understanding of human/social behavior and experiences. Among my conclusions was sharing how “qualitative methods offer a unique toolkit for storytelling, exploring the depths of social phenomena, fostering diversity and a sense of empathy, understanding, and social change, alongside the necessary internal change.”
Building upon that exploration, this edition seeks further to explore the captivating intersection of qualitative research and storytelling.
April has been quite a month concerning all that we are witnessing in this world right now. It was the end of Ramadan for Muslims and during a time of great crisis worldwide.
April was also National Poetry Month in America. National Poetry Month dates back to 1996. The Academy of American Poets established it as a way to celebrate the importance of poetry in our society and culture. It has also grown into a global celebration, with poets, readers, and organizations around the world participating in various events and activities to honor the art of poetry.
In addition to it being National Poetry Month, it was Arab American Heritage Month. This is special considering the events unfolding in the Middle East, and given how the Israeli assault on Gaza, has essentially been an assault on the arts and education of the Palestinian people as well.
Many untold stories can be uncovered through the dehumanizing narratives of marginalized people. Hearing these stories helps us tackle critical ongoing challenges to international security, diplomacy, and development. The art of prose and poetry can intersect with our qualitative inquiries to increase our awareness and develop a connection, understanding, and stronger global citizenship.
The Timeless Practice of Storytelling
Storytelling is a cherished art and a timeless practice embedded in our humanity, society, and culture. It can serve as a powerful tool for researchers to illustrate the complexities of our identities and societal phenomena. Stories can captivate our imagination and emotions. Qualitative research aims to do just that: capturing the essence of lived experiences, allowing for a deeper comprehension of the world.
At the heart of qualitative research, we find the narrative—vivid, nuanced, and often multifaceted.
Through interviews, ethnographic observations, cultural immersion, and other qualitative methods, researchers immerse themselves in the narratives of individuals and communities, unearthing the multiple layers of meaning embedded within their perspectives and experiences.
A prominent attribute of qualitative research is the localized context, recognizing that each story is uniquely shaped by personal perspectives, cultural influences, visceral experiences, and social dynamics. Researchers can uncover the diverse voices and perspectives that enrich our understanding of complex issues.
Among the most enlightening elements of my qualitative fieldwork in Pakistan, was engaging development stakeholders as research informants. Many Pakistanis held multiple talents beyond their professional roles in the development sector. I recall listening to their voices in the recording of my interviews, at least 2-3 times, from the interviewing to the transcription of the recording, and interpretation, developing an even stronger relationship with them. Listening to people telling the stories of their experiences in the development programs would become a core part of my task to share the stories from my lens through qualitative analysis methods. I hope to discuss the importance of developing core listening skills in qualitative research, more in future newsletters about field interviews.
Learning that many of the development stakeholders, and individuals working on development policy issues were also poets, artists, and writers, inspired me, as someone who also shares the same passion for all forms of art. It helped me “connect the dots” to not only the arts and culture in Pakistan but also to understand the intersections of my own personal and professional pursuits, finding that there is room for creativity and innovation in the field of international development.
Exploration of the “Untold” – The Hidden Dynamics in Social Phenomena
Qualitative research allows for exploring people, places, and problems through multiple approaches, angles, and lenses. Creativity and innovation of qualitative approaches can help capture the hidden dynamics, and embark on the exploration of untold stories—the marginalized narratives, the silenced voices, and the overlooked perspectives that we don’t experience through quantitative analyses (as discussed in the last edition).
This particular exploration is what excites, motivates, and inspires me the most in qualitative inquiry. Through in-depth interviews, participatory research methods, and creative approaches to data collection, qualitative researchers strive to amplify these voices, bringing them to the forefront of academic discourse.
To this day, many stories from my qualitative fieldwork experience in Pakistan remain untold. I know I have been aching to publish some of these stories I collected in areas that not many scholars of the West have inhabited, like Tharparkar, Sindh, in other mediums to reach wider audiences. But I hope to embrace the opportunity to share some of those stories with you here in The Qualitative Inquisition as well.
Poetry and Qualitative Research
As we navigate qualitative research and storytelling, we can utilize the transformative power of narrative inquiry to provoke critical reflection, challenge assumptions about people, places, and things, and amplify the voices of those whose stories have yet to be heard.
National Poetry Month reminds us of the value of exploring the intersection of poetry and qualitative research. Just as qualitative research seeks to uncover the contextual nuances and richness of human experiences, at the collective and personal level, poetry offers a unique lens and medium through which to articulate the visceral experiences, sentiments, identity, and social phenomena.
Whether through poetic reflections on research findings, analysis of poetry as an artifact examined in the culture for the study, or the integration of poetic techniques into qualitative analysis, researchers can harness the power of poetry to supplement their findings for their research questions.
Qualitative research uncovers individual stories and illuminates broader cultural narratives and societal structures. For example, through thematic analysis, narrative inquiries and comparisons, and discourse analysis, researchers can reveal the underlying themes and power dynamics that shape collective narratives, shedding light on issues of identity, power, and social change.
The Journey of Discovery through the Art of Storytelling
I sometimes describe myself as a poet and a creative writer and I have always been writing. I may not be among the ‘greats,’ or widely prolific and published, but we don’t have to be ‘great’ to enjoy it. We just have to write. Poetry and creative writing is a journey we embark on, and we get better as we absorb the world around us. I know I have always wanted to become a storyteller. I have always aspired to master the art of storytelling.
My training in qualitative research has given me the tools to be a better storyteller. I plan to continue to explore various elements of this dynamic intersection of storytelling, from the role of reflexivity in qualitative research to the art of listening inherent in storytelling for academic research and writing. This is truly a journey of discovery, where every story has the power to inspire, enlighten, and transform our understanding of the world.
And we can make a valuable lasting impact as qualitative inquisitors, as we open our hearts and minds, listen, write, and share these stories with the world!
Thank you for being with me on this intellectual journey through The Qualitative Inquisition.
Amid the resilience necessary during these times of crisis, do keep the qualitative inquiry going. Keep questioning, exploring, listening, and telling your stories, as the narratives build up—in prose and poetry alike.
Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not comment briefly about what is happening on academic campuses in American and worldwide. As a student of political and social science, as a “student for life,” from one perspective, it has been incredible seeing what stories are unfolding here, in terms of solidarity and collective action among our young people. From another lens, we are witnessing a politically charged attack on higher education, on students and professors, and their fundamental human right to freedom and speech and protest, undermining the safety, security, and intellectual freedom that should be present in academic spaces.
You can keep track of the student-led protests in America and around the world here: https://students4gaza.directory/
These stories are powerful and important, and like all stories that can be understood through multiple lenses, they must be understood and shared with careful consideration of reliable sources and facts. This involves hearing directly from people in the heart of the protests, (central to qualitative inquiry). Students have not only become activists, but also journalists, beyond the traditional sense, sharing their experiences with these protests around the world, and igniting an incredible, historic, unprecedented movement for social change.
In the next edition of my newsletter, I’d like to continue writing about this big topic of the transformative power of storytelling in qualitative research. In the process, I plan to explore the intersection of journalism, storytelling and qualitative research.
I hope you subscribe and join me in the next edition of The Qualitative Inquisition!
Thank you, and in the meantime, stay inquisitive!
In Solidarity,
Your fellow qualitative Inquisitor,
Dr. Elsa
Top News Roundup
Mapping Pro-Palestine Campus Protests Around the World
Anxiety in Gaza as Rafah Bombardment Intensifies
Normalizing Relations between Pakistan and India
Why is Pakistan Expelling Afghan Refugees?
Gulf States Response to Iran-Israel Conflict May Decide Outcome
Sudan’s Forgotten Humanitarian Crisis - A Full-Blown Famine Looms
Russia Intensifies Attacks on Ukraine
Academic Book Recommendation
The Book Proposal Book – by Laura Portwood Stacer
Are you working on writing your next non-fiction story or book as a Scholar or Academic?
I have consulted this book and am in the process of completing another draft of my book proposal based on my dissertation, with the support of this book. This has been a fantastic resource, along with Laura’s The Manuscript Works Newsletter.
Professional Development Book Recommendation
Building a Second Brain, by Tiago Forte
This is an important book at this time when it seems impossible to manage and absorb all the information we consume on a day-to-day basis. Staying organized and making sure we are nurturing, building, and maintaining a “second brain” will contribute to meeting our goals and objectives as “students for life.”
Happy Belated World Book Day! (April 23!)
What are you reading these days?
TRIVIA
This month’s Trivia Question:
During which period in history did the Islamic world experience a flourishing of poetry, literature, and scientific advancements?
Answers from the Previous Edition’s Trivia Question:
Question: In what year did the Berlin Wall fall, symbolizing the end of the Cold War? During the same year, what protests were simultaneously happening in which country, demanding political reform and democratic freedoms?
Answer: 1989. The Tiananmen Square protests were happening in China at the same time.
Quote of the Month
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
-Dr. Maya Angelou