Master Narrative Methodology: A Primer for Conducting Structural-Psychological Research

Public Significance Statement Psychology is a discipline that focuses on individual-level behaviors and mental processes. However, those behaviors and mental processes occur within a socially stratified society, in which some groups have more access to power than others. This article focuses on research methods that can help bridge the divide between individuals and the social structures in which they live. Objective: The emphasis placed on individual-level analysis throughout psychological science in general, and diversity science in particular, has left the role of structural factors undertheorized. Moreover, the field suffers from a lack of research methods that fully investigate structural-individual relations. This article outlines one structural-psychological approach, the master narrative framework, and details various methods for taking social structures into account while still maintaining the focus on the individual. Conclusion: These methods, including event narratives, in-depth interviews, life-script analysis, focus groups, experiments, and conversation analysis, allow for an understanding of both the nature and substance of the structures and how individuals interact with them.

Automated summary

This article introduces a structural-psychological approach to bridge the gap between individuals and the social structures they live in. By utilizing various research methods, it aims to understand the impact of social structures on individuals and how individuals interact with them.