Abstract
How can we assess the ways in which people construe meaning in life? As part of a research project aimed at establishing and explaining the effects of narrative autobiographical life review methods, we are conducting brief narrative autobiographical interviews from elderly participants (age 80+) from both an experimental and a control group. As the overall study seeks to relate qualitative assessment of narrative competence with quantitative measures of well-being and quality of the caring relationship, we have developed a standardised multidimensional procedure for analysing interviews and measuring narrative competence. In our experimental design we will be able to capture development and change in the stories of an individual. This chapter presents the method for the narrative analysis of the quality of life stories, exemplifies it by a case study, and clarifies its implicit theological dimensions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Empirical Theology in Texts and Tables |
| Subtitle of host publication | Qualitative, Quantitative and Comparative Perspectives |
| Editors | Jeff Astley, Jeff Astley, Mandy Robbins, Leslie J. Francis |
| Publisher | Brill Publishers |
| Pages | 197-215 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9789004168886 |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Publication series
| Series | Empirical Studies in Theology |
|---|---|
| Volume | 17 |
| ISSN | 1389-1189 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:Copyright 2009 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands.