Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is two-fold: first, to provide a description and theoretical rationale for a methodological innovation used to explore relationships visitors form with a single museum over time; and second, to examine and critique the research outcomes in light of this approach. Design/methodology/approach: To probe individual relationships with a museum, in this narrative inquiry, a unique method of data generation was developed - a "guided tour" of the museum. The guided tour, led by participants, provided a context and purpose for rich conversations between researcher and participant and deepened the relational quality of the research. Findings: The quality of the researcher-participant relationship played a critical role in shaping understandings, gained through the research process, about the phenomenon under investigation and self. Research limitations/implications: Findings from the study document that novel insights emerge when opportunities to strengthen the researcher-participant relationship are built into the research design. Originality/value: This paper illustrates the value of employing strategies that deepen the relational quality in narrative research.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 32-46 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Qualitative Research Journal |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Apr 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Customer behaviour
- Museums
- Narrative research
- Narratives
- Qualitative methods
- Qualitative research
- Relational quality