Independent Applied Qualitative Research for Organizations 
Navigating Complex Institutional Questions

Dahna Chandler | Founder and Principal Researcher

The Narrative Praxis Institute (TNPI) is an independent applied qualitative research institute dedicated to investigating how institutional narratives influence organizational decision-making, financial access, stakeholder trust, and organizational change.

Working at the intersection of qualitative inquiry, organizational change, institutional communication, and narrative analysis, TNPI collaborates selectively with organizations, associations, foundations, and academic partners seeking research that is both methodologically rigorous and practically useful.

Rather than functioning as a traditional consultancy or academic center, TNPI intentionally maintains a limited portfolio of collaborative research projects so each receives sustained scholarly attention and methodological rigor.

Current doctoral research at the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education examines how institutional narratives and business-banking practices shape Black entrepreneurs' access to financial infrastructure, organizational trust, and wealth-building opportunities.

Drawing on organizational change theory, qualitative inquiry, and narrative analysis, the research investigates how institutional language, historical memory, and business practices influence access to financial systems and organizational decision-making.

The broader objective is to produce decision-useful research that organizations can use to strengthen institutional trust, improve communication, and better understand the relationship between narrative and organizational change.

TNPI's current areas of inquiry include:

• Financial access and entrepreneurship
• Organizational change and institutional narratives
• Stakeholder trust and institutional communication
• Narrative systems and organizational decision-making
• Applied qualitative research and evaluation

TNPI collaborates selectively with:

• Foundations
• Professional associations
• Healthcare organizations
• Financial institutions
• Cultural organizations
• Academic researchers

whose work benefits from rigorous qualitative inquiry and applied organizational research.

"Dahna communicates complex financial narratives with clarity, depth, and scholarly precision. Her work is rigorously researched and engaging—whether for academic peers, sector professionals, or general audiences. She’s among the strongest researchers I’ve worked with and brings an exceptional level of professionalism and insight to every project.” —Dr. Corinne Hyde, Professor of Clinical Practice, University of Southern California Rossier School of Education