Protecting Anonymity in Rural Locales: The Use of Composite Narratives in Intimate Partner Violence Research

Abstract

A crucial consideration in the presentation of findings within intimate partner violence (IPV) research is the protection of participant identities. While it is necessary to center survivors’ voices, it is equally important to provide layers of anonymity, especially in smaller rural settings where “everyone knows everyone,” and where it is thus difficult to guarantee confidentiality for interlocutors. One such way to protect identity is the use of composite narratives: extracting data from several interviews and blending narrative details into one individual story that highlights cross-cutting themes. The purpose of this paper is to examine the affordances of using composite narratives in presenting research findings from rural survivors of IPV. In addition to providing necessary anonymity, this paper also illustrates how composite narratives can showcase ethnographic specificity and utilize the methodological concept of “narrative shock” to enhance empathy, awareness, intervention, and training around IPV for a wide audience.