Contextual Narrative Interpretation Model (CNI): Rethinking Qualitative Analysis

After a brief presentation of the primary qualitative analysis methods in psychological research, this paper proposes a new model for qualitative analysis, the “Contextual Narrative Interpretation” (CNI) model and demonstrates its application. The authors’ primary objectives are to demonstrate the practicality and relevance of the CNI in psychological sciences qualitative research and to assist researchers considering the adoption of this method by offering concrete case studies illustrating its utilization. The CNI emphasizes using both text and context to reveal new aspects of the narrative and represent these cases visually, in three dimensional geometric forms. This in turn aids in the structured identification of themes. The demonstration of the CNI uses data collected from “first-generation” Israeli college students through detailed case studies of their experiences. The authors guide the reader through the steps of the CNI, providing insights into how the narrative was interpreted and offering a reflective discourse on the method’s usage. Our CNI model accommodates multiple dimensions, each corresponding to a distinct aspect of text and context. The three-dimensional representations encapsulate the complexity of the narrative’s interpretation and deepen our understanding of the narrative. Hence, this article serves as an introduction to and a practical illustration of the CNI within the domain of psychological sciences, and suggest broad methodological applications.