I have been thinking again about Narrative Inquiry as methodological framework. People tell their experiences through ’stories’. We share stories in everyday life, clients tell their stories during therapeutic sessions as ways of communicating and making meaning of the self and the world. In qualitative research,many stories are narrated on behalf of research participants to capture the experience of the phenomenon described…so many stories are woven within the human identity, though the interpersonal relations…life in general, is full of stories. Even the writing up of a research project is another ’story’. I read an interesting quote today around this. Here it is: … Read more »

Today I have been having many ’stories’ in my head around how many of my autobiographical STORIES may be affecting the research process. This is something I have discussed with WW during a supervision session in the past and it also came up as a theme on a number of occassions recently, one when attending Kim Etherigton’s workshop in November and another when talking with Sophia B. in Crete about her own PhD. I think it would be helpful if I did some reading on this topic. A good start would be the following books: … Read more »

A fellow traveller in the PhD group has sent me a demonstrative account of how she views the heuristic journey towards the desired ‘creative synthesis’ as described by Moustakas (1994). This story shows vividly the impact that the heuristic journey may have on the researcher…as for me, I often feel that I am sinking into deep waters, due to my personal involvement with the research topic…but I do hope that, given I grew up in a country all surrounded by sea, am a good swimmer and won’t end up saying “never again”. Here it is (with thanks and acknowledgements to Ann) … Read more »