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What’s Your History? Methodological Prospects and Challenges of Using Life-History Narratives as an Alternative Method to Assess Nonprofits’ Impacts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2026

Sonia Tello-Rozas Open the ORCID record for Sonia Tello-Rozas [Opens in a new window] ,
Valérie Michaud  and
Jacques Rhéaume
Sonia Tello-Rozas*
Affiliation:
École des Sciences de la Gestion, Université du Québec à Montréal (ESG UQAM), Science Management Building, 315 Saint Catherine East Street, Montreal, QC H2X 3X2, Canada
Valérie Michaud*
Affiliation:
École des Sciences de la Gestion, Université du Québec à Montréal (ESG UQAM), Science Management Building, 315 Saint Catherine East Street, Montreal, QC H2X 3X2, Canada
Jacques Rhéaume*
Affiliation:
Département de Communication Sociale et Publique, Université du Québec à Montréal, (UQAM), 315, rue Sainte-Catherine Est, Montréal, QC H2X 3X2, Canada
*
tello-rozas.sonia@uqam.ca
michaud.valerie@uqam.ca
rheaume.jacques@uqam.ca
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Abstract

To study the social impacts of third sector organizations seeking the integration of vulnerable populations, we explored an alternative approach: life-history narratives. In this methodological article, we present and detail the steps followed in qualitative research applying this approach. We depict the conceptual and methodological underpinnings of life-history narratives, from the individual narratives to the construction of a typology, in consideration of the broader social context. We also address the challenges encountered in this type of research and then share some of the general results from our specific project to highlight the richness of the approach. Our contribution offers a deep-seated exploration of complex methodologies that involve working with third sector organizations toward concrete alternative means of impact assessment, and the consideration of effects on individual trajectories anchored and situated in more macro, societal context.

Keywords

Social impactLife-historyNarrativesWork integrationQualitative method

Information

Type
Research Papers
Information
Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations , Volume 33 , Issue 6 , December 2022 , pp. 1122 - 1131
Copyright
Copyright © International Society for Third-Sector Research 2021

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