Using the story-telling technique in the qualitative research of national identity

• Main Author: Şandru, C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Transilvania University of Brasov Publishing House 2011-01-01
• Series: Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov: Series VII: Social Sciences, Law
• Subjects: social identity; social representation; story-telling; patriotic song.
• Online Access: http://webbut.unitbv.ro/Bulletin/Series%20VII/BULETIN%20VII/02_5%20Sandru.pdf

This paper contains the main results of a qualitative research onRomanians national identity. The research proposes a new approach to the national identity based on two methodological elements: the patriotic songs as a stimulus for reflection on national identity and the presentation of data in the form of story-telling. The theoretical background integrates the social identity theory and the theory of social representations. The main conclusionof the research is that Romanians have nowadays a negative social identity in relation with their own country and the political class is seen as the main culprit for the country’s bad situation.