Narrative Inquiry as Contemplative Methodology

Contemplative practices such as mindfulness, presence, deep listening, and loving kindness can guide a researcher's ethical decisions and deepen understanding of study participants. Drawing on personal experience as both a novice researcher and experienced practitioner, the author argues that contemplative practice is not merely an enrichment for narrative inquiry but is central to it, making narrative inquiry a methodology that is contemplative at its core.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This reflective essay describes how contemplative practices, including mindfulness, presence, deep listening, contemplative reading, free writing, visualization, bearing witness, and loving kindness, were engaged during my doctoral research study. As a novice researcher but experienced practitioner, contemplative practice guided my research and creative processes, allowing me to present a deeper understanding of the participants in my study while simultaneously bringing a heartfulness to my ethical decisions. While it is not uncommon for researchers to draw on their existing skills in mindfulness and other contemplative practices, I propose that contemplative practice is central to narrative inquiry research, making it both a qualitative methodology that can be enriched by contemplative practice but also a research methodology that is contemplative at its core.