Biyografik Anlatı Yaklaşımı: Din Psikolojisi İçin Nitel Bir Yöntem Önerisi
Biographical Narrative Approach: A Qualitative Method Proposal for the Psychology of Religion

Summary/Abstract: Although quantitative methods still dominate the field of the psychology of religion, qualitative approaches, particularly those involving life stories and narrative perspectives, are only used to a limited extent. However, the biographical narrative method offers powerful tools for gaining a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s religious experiences, identity, faith development, and philosophy of life. This approach aims to structure an individual’s past experiences to reveal their life story deeply. Within this context, researchers can analyse how participants assign meaning to the events they have experienced, how they structure these experiences, and which personal or social elements they connect them to. This study examines Fritz Schütze’s narrative interview technique and reconstructive interpretive strategies, and assesses the potential of this method within the context of the psychology of religion. Schütze's biographical narrative approach is primarily used as an empirical tool in the social sciences in German-speaking regions. Research in religious studies shows that the biographical narrative approach makes significant contributions, particularly in the examination of religious transformation processes, crisis periods, levels of activism, and self-perception. Some Western studies demonstrate that this method enables the religious transformation process to be understood as part of the individual's life story within a narrative framework. These studies allow changes in self-perception to be analysed, as well as how these transformations are shaped within the context of the individual's life story and the actions taken during this process. Furthermore, biographical narrative interviews require an environment in which participants can freely recount their life stories. The participant's story, as told in their own words, will be interpreted by the researcher using narrative analysis techniques. This provides an opportunity to gain a more holistic understanding of the individual’s religious experiences. This process requires considerable effort at both the data collection and analysis stages. At the same time, it is of great importance that the researcher is impartial and has a critical perspective. It can therefore be concluded that the biographical narrative approach has significant potential to increase methodological diversity in the psychology of religion. Using this method in current research, which takes into consideration personal differences and multi-layered life experiences, will contribute to the development of the psychology of religion and provide a richer understanding of individuals’ religious experiences.

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