ERIC Number: EJ1404619
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0332-3315
EISSN: EISSN-1747-4965
Understanding Narrative Inquiry through Life Story Interviews with Former Prisoners
Irish Educational Studies, v42 n4 p775-786 2023
Researchers' reflections on narrative inquiry is a growing area of interest for the qualitative researchers' community (Beuthin 2014; Bruce et al 2016; O'Grady, Clandinin and O'Toole 2018). Furthermore, the relationship between the insider and outsider, researcher and participant, in narrative research conducted in social sciences, including nursing, health sciences, and education, has been extensively explored (Berger 2015; Darwin Holmes 2020). This paper reports on a project in which life story interviews with former prisoners were conducted in Ireland and Greece. The aim is to contribute to our understanding and knowledge of narrative inquiry by providing insights into the methodology employed, along with the challenges faced and steps taken to address those challenges during the project. The paper begins with a reflective account of the author's experience as a researcher engaging in narrative inquiry, focusing on the rationale behind choosing this method and issues of design, positionality, ethics and access. Then the focus shifts to how the fieldwork in two European countries allowed the author to explore the cross-cultural boundaries of narrative inquiry. Finally, the paper concludes with a persuasive argument on the value of narrative inquiry, drawing upon the insights and findings from the research project.
Descriptors: Personal Narratives, Inquiry, Reflection, Institutionalized Persons, Interviews, Research Methodology, Ethics, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Ireland; Greece
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A