Narrative journeys: on the significance of motion in interviewing

Abstract

This article introduces narrative journeys as a distinct approach to qualitative interviewing that foregrounds movement not as context but as an active feature of meaning-making. Drawing on two case studies—one in Chile and one in South Africa—we explore how interviews conducted while walking allow for different narrative flows, affective rhythms and relational dynamics compared to conventional sit-down formats. Rather than focusing primarily on place, as is often the case in go-along interviews, we argue that it is the motion itself that reshapes the conditions for reflection, disclosure and interaction. Through the use of ethnographic vignettes, we examine how pace, gesture and spatial negotiation structure the unfolding of narrative content. We also address key ethical and methodological considerations, including visibility, consent and the unpredictability of public space. Our analysis suggests that narrative journeys offer not only an alternative technique but a reconfiguration of the interview as a dynamic and co-produced encounter. This approach may be particularly suited to research concerned with lived experience, relationality and the subtle interplay of thought and movement. We conclude by outlining a set of dimensions for analysing interviews in motion and reflecting on the potential of this method within qualitative research more broadly.