ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces narrative research and the theoretical divisions of this field. Narrative researchers also diverge over whether stories symbolise an internal individual state or external social circumstances. Despite the theoretical differences, there are many common threads that draw both traditions together. This includes the investigation of individuals' experiences and stories within the contexts of their lives. It assumes that stories may be socially constructed and representations of affective states of being. Narratives within narratives type can also be viewed as a form of social code, addressing stories as dialogically constructed. The approach is probably the most common method of narrative analysis and perhaps the most straightforward in applied settings. Overall, narrative research is a multilevel and interdisciplinary field with many approaches and theoretical understandings. It is important to understand these as we traverse the world of children and narratives. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
