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Understanding Narrative Research Methodologies

Research is a required tool for effective narrative change. Nevertheless, it can be challenging for frontline practitioners to know which research methods will best help them meet their goals, needs—and their budgets.

The narrative change field is informed by an array of multidisciplinary approaches that have been honed over decades to craft narratives, test messages, landscape the narrative environment, and measure narrative change efforts.

To make managing narrative change strategy easier and more effective, Narrative Initiative, in conversation with narrative change practitioners, is exploring how different research practices inform narrative strategies. We’ll also identify opportunities for greater collaboration and transparency among research institutions in the field.

Orienting Together: Mapping your Narrative Landscape

Imagine your roommate asks you to plan a road trip. Logically, you ask them where you’ll depart from and where you’re headed. In response, you hear “I don’t know.” At this point, you weigh your options – you could just throw a couple of darts at a map and find the most efficient line that…

Rachel Weidinger / October 26, 2023

Rural Pre-conference at 22nd Century Initiative in Minneapolis

In organizing, many progressives fall into traps that cast rural Americans as antagonists to progress writ large. This erases both rural people who are working towards racial, gender, economic, and migrant justice and the particular concerns, realities, and assets of rural communities. At our best, our many movements have shown that we can coalesce around…

Elliot Ramo / October 23, 2023

“Money is Medicine”

Back in June, I moderated a panel at Alight, Align, Arise, the inaugural conference on reparations hosted by Decolonizing Wealth. The panel focused on the narrative history of reparations, a history that began well before the end of the Civil War as keynote speaker and author Ta-Nehisi Coates discussed during his opening night fireside chat…

Nikesha Elise Williams / October 9, 2023

Artwork on a building in Shiprock, New Mexico.

Reclaiming Native Truth: Narrative research and making Native Americans visible

Leah Salgado of IllumiNative on how narrative research maps a path to visibility and power while also supporting responses to COVID-19.

Ted Fickes / May 28, 2020

Narrative change in 2019

Deep narratives are built upon deep connections between people. Narrative is a thing (and narrative change is a practice). Deep narrative change needs deep values. Narrative Initiative exists to catalyze durable narrative change so we may make equity and justice common sense. We do that by connecting people and organizations, amplifying promising methods and novel…

Narrative Initiative / December 19, 2019

Narrative research: Access, methods and pathways to a stronger field

Successful narrative change projects require practitioners to know what strategies work. When to use them. Who their audience is. That takes research and data analysis, message testing and training. It means sharing what we learn with partners both old and new. It also means breaking down silos and pushing the capacity to test, analyze and…

Narrative Initiative / October 17, 2019

The state of narrative change research methodology

A recent investigation by partners at Spitfire Strategies explores traditional and emergent research methods used to determine openings and trends in narrative change. We are excited to share recent findings of interviews and exploration into narrative research methodologies.

Narrative Initiative / September 18, 2019

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Related Resources

Webinar

Webinar: Research Methodologies for Narrative Change Practice

What research methodologies are currently being used by narrative change practitioners? How could we work together to strengthen our approach to research and empirically grounded practice? Watch this webinar for key insights based on our narrative change research field survey.

Report

Field Guide: Narrative Research Methodologies

The narrative change field is informed by an array of multidisciplinary approaches to craft narratives, test messages, landscape the narrative environment, and measure narrative change efforts. Our field guide presents a map to a number of traditional and emergent research practices in this space.

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