Andrews (sociology, U. of East London, UK) et al. provide eight chapters that describe how to do narrative research in the social sciences. Social sciences and sociology scholars from Europe and the US discuss its history and theory, and how they use narrative methods in their research, including narrative analysis, interpersonal contexts, dialogic narrative, and experience-centered and culturally-oriented approaches. They also address issues of positionality, reflexivity, and power, how narrative can be used to investigate real social problems, and ethics. All contributors have participated in ongoing symposia on narrative research held at the Centre for Narrative Research at the U. of East London. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Examining narrative methods in the context of its multi-disciplinary social science origins, this text looks at its theoretical underpinnings, while retaining an emphasis on the process of doing narrative research. The authors provide a comprehensive guide to narrative methods, taking the reader from initial decisions about forms of narrative analysis, through more complex issues of reflexivity, interpretation and the research context.
The contributions included here clearly demonstrate the value of narrative methods for contemporary social research and practice. This book will be invaluable for all social science postgraduate students and researchers looking to use narrative methods in their own research.
| Notes on editors and contributors |
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viii | |
| Introduction: What is narrative research? |
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1 | (21) |
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Narratives of events: Labovian narrative analysis and its limitations |
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22 | (19) |
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Experience-centred and culturally-oriented approaches to narrative |
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41 | (23) |
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Analysing narrative contexts |
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64 | (14) |
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Looking back on narrative research: An exchange |
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78 | (8) |
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Catherine Kohler Riessman |
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Never the last word: Revisiting data |
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86 | (16) |
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A Foucauldian approach to narratives |
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102 | (19) |
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Narrating sensitive topics |
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121 | (16) |
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The public life of narratives: Ethics, politics, methods |
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137 | (14) |
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| Concluding comments |
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151 | (6) |
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Catherine Kohler Riessman |
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| Index |
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157 | |
Molly Andrews is Professor of Political Psychology, and Codirector of the Centre for Narrative Research (www.uelac.uk/cnr/index.htm) at the University of East London. Her research interests includes political narratives, the psychological basis of political commitment, political identity, and patriotism.
Corinne SQUIRE is Professor of Social Sciences and Co-Director, Centre for Narrative Research, at the University of East London, and Research Associate, University of the Witwatersrand. Her research interests are in subjectivities and popular culture, narrative theory and methods, HIV and citizenship, and refugee politics.
Maria Tamboukou (BA, MA, PhD) is a professor of feminist studies at the University of East London, UK. Her research activity develops in the areas of philosophies and epistemologies in the social sciences, feminist theories, narrative analytics, and archival research. Writing feminist genealogies is the central focus of her work. She is the author of seven monographs and more than 70 journal articles and book chapters. Recent publications include the monographs Sewing, Writing and Fighting; Gendering the Memory of Work; Women Workers Education as well as the coauthored the book The Archive Project.
