Using a bespoke, triad narrative analysis approach with Gen Z students: telling the story of their values

Hill, Ellie; Gossman, Peter; Woolley, Richard

Abstract

This paper presents an innovative narrative data analysis approach, used in a narrative research project exploring student values. The work of three different authors was drawn upon to create a novel, rigorous and synergistic analysis tool. A novel approach to data analysis, using the stories told by one Generation Z (Gen Z) student and the personal values elicited, which are drawn from Schwartz’s theory of universals in basic human values is presented. This leads to a restorying of the data, from which the reader finds meaning. The participant was interviewed at the beginning of their first year as undergraduate and is presented as an example from the larger study of seven Gen Z students. How this approach is effective is examined, demonstrating that combining theory and the narrative analysis approach enabled the values of self-direction, security, benevolence and power to be exposed within the resulting restorying. This is a new and innovative approach to narrative analysis that can be applied in a wide range of contexts internationally and utilised in future studies.

Citation

Hill, E., Gossman, P., & Woolley, R. (2024). Using a bespoke, triad narrative analysis approach with Gen Z students: telling the story of their values. Research in Post-Compulsory Education, https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2023.2285628

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 20, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jan 20, 2024
• Publication Date: Jan 20, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jan 24, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 25, 2024
• Journal: Research in Post-Compulsory Education
• Print ISSN: 1359-6748
• Electronic ISSN: 1747-5112
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2023.2285628
• Keywords: Data analysis; Values; Personal narratives; Restorying; Gen Z; Undergraduate students
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4524575