Honoring Student “Voice” in Investigating Student Identity Development in a Narrative Study: A Methodological and Analytical Example

Multiple, interrelated narrative methods were employed in a doctoral study purposed to investigate the student identity development of seven first-year participants. This approach provided them with multiple opportunities convey their unique experiences and revealed rich understandings how they constructed identities at private higher education provider Johannesburg, South Africa. The purpose this article is demonstrate that fostering trust participants ensured formation biographical portraits through narrative-type collection forms analyses, resulting tapestries personal experience, which constitutive formation. Each participant’s narratives particularities, complexities, first year. Although each participant experienced year very differently, weaves one person into its fabric. narrations Kondwani (pseudonym), Zambian student, are used illustrate her voice emerged was held trustful research relationship. Her case representative all it an exemplar richness individual gleaned from carefully chosen analysis study.