The Hegemony of the Narrative: Reflections on the Contours of Social Science Research

As qualitative research methods in the social sciences continue to increase in their use and potential applications, new problems arise. Of comparatively minor concern is the increasing hegemony of the narrative over other forms of inquiry. A more serious concern is the disconnection between researchers and the philosophy of science. This article describes the rise to dominance of qualitative methods, some implications of that shift, key concerns threatening the unity of scholarly inquiry, and suggestions for training social science researchers that may enhance their ability to produce and disseminate widely accessible interpretations of diverse investigations.