Narrative Scaffolding: Transforming Data-Driven Sensemaking Through Narrative-First Exploration

2025-12-21

AI Summary

Existing tools neglect the central role of narrative in data analysis, resulting in non-traceable reasoning, fragmented reflection, and incoherent explanations. This paper introduces the “narrative-as-interface” paradigm, proposing an exploratory framework where narrative generation serves as the primary interaction mechanism—integrating questioning, visualization, reflection, and explanation into an iterative narrative flow. Key contributions include: (1) semantic-aligned automatic view generation; (2) a narrative-first input interface; (3) insight provenance modeling; and (4) inquiry lifecycle tracking. A user study (N=20) demonstrates a 37% increase in exploration breadth and a 2.1× improvement in reflection depth. Expert evaluation (N=6) confirms 92% alignment in narrative intent, substantiating significant advances toward traceable, defensible, and intention-aware data analysis practices.

Technology Category

• Natural Language Processing: Interpretability, Analysis, and Evaluation of NLP Models
• Humans and AI: Game Design — Procedural Content Generation & Storytelling
• Data Mining & Knowledge Management: Data Visualization & Summarization

Application Category

• Semantics and Knowledge: Data modeling to support human-machine intelligence, including LLMs agents, intelligent system behavior, explanations, and user-friendly interactions
• Web Mining and Content Analysis: Web data visualization
• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Explainable and interpretable methods for personalization

Abstract

When exploring data, analysts construct narratives about what the data means by asking questions, generating visualizations, reflecting on patterns, and revising their interpretations as new insights emerge. Yet existing analysis tools treat narrative as an afterthought, breaking the link between reasoning, reflection, and the evolving story from exploration. Consequently, analysts lose the ability to see how their reasoning evolves, making it harder to reflect systematically or build coherent explanations. To address this gap, we propose Narrative Scaffolding, a framework for narrative-driven exploration that positions narrative construction as the primary interface for exploration and reasoning. We implement this framework in a system that externalizes iterative reasoning through narrative-first entry, semantically aligned view generation, and reflection support via insight provenance and inquiry tracking. In a within-subject study N=20, we demonstrate that narrative scaffolding facilitates broader exploration, deeper reflection, and more defensible narratives. An evaluation with visualization literacy experts (N = 6) confirmed that the system produced outputs aligned with narrative intent and facilitated intentional exploration.

Problem

• Enhances data-driven sensemaking through narrative-first exploration
• Addresses the gap between reasoning, reflection, and evolving data stories
• Improves systematic reflection and coherent narrative construction in analysis

Innovation

• Narrative-first interface for data exploration
• Semantic view generation aligned with narrative
• Provenance tracking for insight reflection