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Narrative methods
in professional settings
‘The notion of a history
or narrative seems to be necessary in order to
make sense of the notion of a ‘self’;
for we make sense – or fail to make sense
- of our lives by the kind of story we can –
or cannot tell about it.’
Joseph Dunne.
(1996)
The turn to biographical/narrative methods in
the social sciences has implications, particularly
in the helping professions which are only just
beginning to be realised in practice.
While professional approaches may differ they
all share an interest in understanding how individual
biographies shape and are shaped by, social process
and institutions. They all share a concern with
how individual biographies can be (re-)structured
and with which forms of intervention can be demonstrated
to be the most effective.
This introductory course aims to critically explore
the contribution that biographical/narrative theory
and methodolgy can play in this process.
SYLLABUS OUTLINE
1. What’s
in a Story?
• Introduction to the narrative
metaphor.
• The narrative construction
of identity in an evolutionary context.
• Language as a structuring
principle of consciousness?
2. What's
your Story?
• The social construction
of identity as narrative process.
• Embodiment and Emplacement.
• Identity in the context
of Globalisation.
3. Between
you me and the gatepost
• The ethics and politics
of biographical narrative research.
4. Talking
the talk
• Planning and conducting
a narrative interview.
• Micro politics of the interview.
• Recording the interview.
5. Doing
the business
• Narrative interview exercise.
6. The
Interviewer’s Tale
• Reflections on the Narrative
Interview.
7. The
Interviewee’s Tale
• Reflections on the narrative
Interview.
8. Healing
Tales.
• Therapeutic uses of the
narrative metaphor.
9. ‘The
moving finger writes and having writ...’
• Producing a narrative transcript.
10. The Devil
in the detail?
• The range of analytical
strategies.
11. Context,
Context, Context.
• Re- Locating Stories in
the ‘Life World’
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