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Lived Experience and Interpretation in Narrative Theory: Experiences of Living with HIV/AIDS

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 06:41 authored by Douglas EzzyDouglas Ezzy
Narrative analysis builds on the strengths of qualitative research by examining the construction of meaning and symbolic systems in a framework that is explicitly temporal and that links research in the humanities with that in the social sciences. Qualitative methodologies often assume reported data accurately reflects the realities of lived experience. On the other hand some research drawing on cultural studies argues that the facts of a person's life are irrelevant. This paper argues for a middle way based on narrative theory that explores the interaction of objective events and their subjectiveinterpretation. Further, narrative analysis enables exploration of the temporal structure of people's experiences focusing on both how a person's memories of the past and anticipations of the future influence their understanding and actions in the present. These points are developed drawing on the theory and methodology of both Symbolic Interactionism and Paul Ricoeur's Hermeneutics. The experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS are used to illustrate and explicate the usefulness of narrative analysis.

History

Publication title

Qualitative Sociology

Volume

21

Pagination

169-180

ISSN

0162-0436

Department/School

School of Social Sciences

Publisher

Human Sciences Press

Place of publication

New York

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Social structure and health

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