A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Applying the approach of narrative agency: A dialogue between theory, reading group practices, and analysis of participants’ experiences
Authors: Kinnunen, Eevastiina; Meretoja, Hanna; Kosonen, Päivi
Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing Company
Publication year: 2024
Journal: Narrative Inquiry
Journal name in source: Narrative Inquiry
Volume: 34
Issue: 2
First page : 281
Last page: 306
ISSN: 1387-6740
eISSN: 1569-9935
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/ni.22029.kin
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1075/ni.22029.kin
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/393279229
In this article, we discuss a dialogue between narrative theory, reading group practices, and analysis of reading group participants’ experiences. Hanna Meretoja’s theory of narrative agency has informed us in developing a new reading group model that aims to enhance the participants’ narrative agency, and, in turn, the analysis of the reading group experiences provides us with new knowledge on the reading group model, as well as on the theoretical approach. We explore narrative agency analysis as a tool to analyze interviews, and our analysis of three participants’ experiences illustrates how narrative agency can manifest itself in various forms. It also demonstrates that the enhanced ability to navigate narrative environments can be highly meaningful on a personal level. The article suggests that, despite its challenges, this kind of research approach, combining theory and practice, enriches and expands the possibilities of literary studies.
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Funding information in the publication:
The writing of this article has been funded by the Research Council of Finland (formerly the Academy of Finland) (projects 314769 and 354789, l ed by Hanna Meretoja) and the Emil Aaltonen Foundation (Eevastiina Kinnunen PhD project).
