Using Narratives to Understand How People Benefit from CROs

Abstract

In this chapter, I analyze the life history narratives of consumer-run organization (CRO) participants from an etic or outsiders’ perspective using the role framework as a guide. Each narrative is individually analyzed with an emphasis placed on how the narratives can and cannot be understood using the role framework. The analyses conceptually organize each life history into the components of the role framework. The resulting write-up for each key informant provides insight into the utility of the role framework. The analyses also improve conceptual understanding of how each informant’s life changed over time, along with how each participant did and did not benefit from CRO participation. After the individual analyses, the chapter provides an integrative summary analysis of all narratives.