Objective: To present the biographical narrative interviews and biographical case reconstruction as methodological alternatives in nursing research.
Methods: Theoretical-reflective study that presents the aspects of the biographical narrative method and of reconstruction of biographical cases according to the German interpretive social research framework developed by the sociologist Gabriele Rosenthal.
Results and discussion: The reflection was organized into three topics: conceptual interpretative aspects of biographical research; biographical narrative interview in the production of data; reconstruction of biographical case. This framework proved to be adequate to access and understand the perspective of the social agents in the face of practices and phenomena in the field of Nursing.
Conclusion: Approach of biographical narratives is an important tool for research in Nursing, since it makes it possible to understand the lives of individuals based on their own actions and interpretations.