Abstract
In light of the increasing integration of cognitive science with
literary criticism in recent years, this study compares
quantitative and qualitative narrative analysis methodologies to
explore the extent to which psychology, as a scientific enterprise,
can and should interface with literature. This study compared
bilingual and monolingual autobiographies for themes related to
linguistic status, and identity fragmentation or ambiguity, using
Ulric Neisser's Theory of Five Selves (1988) as a theoretical
framework. The researcher applied judge-based thematic analysis and
word-count analysis, as well as qualitative analysis to examine the
relationship between linguistic background and individuals'
experiences of inner division and conflict. The findings from the
quantitative methodologies suggested no significant relationship
between linguistic status and experiences of identity
fragmentation; high variability on all dependent variables was
found across different texts as well as across judges' ratings. On
the other hand, the qualitative approach to the same texts yielded
richer information about the existence and nature of doubleness or
confusion in individual self-concepts - linguistic background is
far from the only reason for such an experience. The differences in
knowledge derived from qualitative versus quantitative
methodologies suggest that current quantitative models may not be
adequate as standalone approaches to narrative analysis yet.
Ultimately, more caution has to be applied when considering the
interface between science and literature.
Keywords:
science, literature, narrative
analysis, autobiography, bilingualism
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Abstract 2
Introduction 3
Method 18
Results (Quantitative) 24
Qualitative Analysis 30
Discussion 40
References 49
Tables and Figures 55
Appendix 67
About this Honors Thesis
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