Building stories: Exploring participant experiences and research relationships

Abstract

In this article we present findings from two separate narrative phenomenological studies interested in the narrative representations of experiences. While meeting original research aims, unexpected accounts of the meaningful experience derived from participation in the studies emerged. The shared methodological approach is introduced, followed by explorations of time, space, actors, and scenes as co-constructed story-telling and story-making considerations. The discussion highlights that while researcher positionality is itself not a novel focus, the potential influence of engagement in research must be acknowledged. The data- therefore transcends the narrative shared to become a secondary experience with a constitutive influence on how the research relationship and participation in research is considered, analysed and interpreted.