Hi Eun,

It is not easy to answer your question briefly. Talk to your 
dissertation advisor. If he/she doesn't know, you are in big trouble.

However, I will also offer a very  brief response to you: Qualitative 
methodologies have different epistemologies. The sampling 
considerations and procedures are very different, and in particular, 
from the tradition of Positivist research. Each rule has several 
situational twists, depending on your research project and 
paradigmatic approach. The number of cases that you use can be 
anywhere from one to N. However, it is difficult to handle more than 
3-5 cases if the casework is properly done. Even if you have a staff 
of 20. If someone tells you they have done 28 cases, this is an 
indication for some problems. Either the cases are not properly done, 
or the person doesn't understand qualitative methodologies.

Seven meetings are more then enough if they are information rich and 
you feel there is theoretical saturation. It is good if the cases are 
homogenous. If they are not, more cases might be necessary. However, 
now I am entering into an area of specifics and without knowing your 
project, I might mislead you.

Also, keep in mind that your design research is not about product 
specifications. It is about communication. That makes it 
communication research. That is the nature of design research. (Some 
time think that we call too many thing "design research," some times 
I see that in the professions we are forced to study a very wide 
range of phenomena.) I should not speak more  because I don't know 
how do you use the term "narrative" and as I mentioned, what is your 
study. Still, you need a dissertation advisor.

Part of the dissertation troubles start when a dissertation advisor 
is not well versed in the methodology of the dissertation project. 
One former doctoral student had to live a hell of a time, change 
several programs, etc. until that person found the right advisor for 
the right topic. So, be careful -- I think that is the best advise I 
can give you at this time. By the way, I have made two doctoral 
dissertations in two different disciplines in two different 
educational systems in two different social systems, in two different 
paradigmatic environments, and can relate to people in such situations.

Wishing you success,

Lubomir


At 09:02 AM 8/2/2007, Eun Baek wrote:
>Hello all,
>
>Sorry to interrupt your interesting 'out of step 2' discussion.
>
>But here's my question.
>
>I'm interested in how designers use narratives in design meetings.
>
>Not for one specific design discipline but hopefully for a wider range
>of design areas.
>
>So far, I've managed to observe three design projects.
>
>Each from different design discipline such as retail design, and brand
>identity design,
>
>The number of meetings I attended were 14, but after taking out
>inappropriate bits, 7 meetings were chosen for analysis.
>
>And within these meetings, 28 narratives were identified.
>
>
>
>I am not sure if I've got enough data to make general comments on how .
>
>When I read research papers, some research results are based on a single
>project or even one design meeting.
>
>However, for a PhD level, perhaps I should have conducted more case
>studies to make it valid?
>
>Could you recommend any paper or books that discuss this issue?
>
>I read Silverman's book on qualitative data and Sarantakos' book on
>social research but they didn't give me a firm idea on this case.
>
>Many thanks for your help. Good luck with your research!
>
>
>
>Best wishes,
>
>
>
>EK
>
>***************************************************
>
>Eun-Kyong(EK), Baek
>
>Department of Design Theory and Innovation
>
>Faculty of Art & Design, De Montfort University,
>
>The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH
>
>+44 (0)116 250 6024
>
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>
>