ABSTRACT

Researching Life Stories critically and pragmatically reflects upon the use of life stories in social and educational research. Using four life stories as examples, the authors apply four different, practical approaches to demonstrate effective research and analysis.
As well as examining in detail the four life stories around which the book is written, areas covered include:
* Method and methodology in life story research
* Analysis
* Reflections on analyses
* Craft and ethics in researching life
* Policy, practice and theory in life story research.
Throughout the book the authors demystify the issues surrounding life story research and demonstrate the significance of this approach to understanding individual and social worlds.
This unique approach to life story research will be a valuable resource for all social science and education researchers at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

part |2 pages

Part 1

chapter 1|12 pages

Gerry O’Toole

A design for life

chapter 3|14 pages

The death story of David Hope

chapter 4|13 pages

Frank

part |2 pages

Part 2

chapter 5|16 pages

Approaching

Methodology in life story research

chapter 6|26 pages

Doing

Method in life story research

chapter 7|14 pages

Informing

Epistemology in life story research

part |2 pages

Part 3

chapter 8|12 pages

Frameworks

Analysis in life story research

chapter 9|24 pages

Findings

Four analyses of life stories

chapter 10|14 pages

Reflexivity: reflections on analyses

Reflections on analyses

part |2 pages

Part 4

chapter 11|10 pages

Teaching

Craft and ethics in researching life stories

chapter 12|10 pages

A/Effecting

Audience and effects in researching life stories

chapter 13|12 pages

Applying

Policy, practice and theory in life story research