From Numbers to Narratives: The Role of Lived Experiences in Policy-Making

This paper explores the methodological significance of prioritizing lived experiences and narratives in social policy research. By engaging with qualitative methods, such as interviews and interpretive approaches, it highlights the limitations of quantitative metrics in capturing the complexities of individuals’ realities. Drawing from fieldwork and analysis of policy frameworks, this study examines how the incorporation of personal stories and emotions can challenge dominant narratives and offer a richer, more human-centred perspective to policy-making. It also underscores the transformative potential of qualitative methodologies in bridging the gap between abstract benchmarks and tangible outcomes, advocating for the necessity of an interpretive lens in creating inclusive and effective policies.