Full Description
This book will no doubt support a growing number of us who see [narrative gerontology] as a field with much potential, within and outside of academia. -- Kathy D. Lohr, Ed.D., East Carolina University, Educational Gerontology
What is meant by narrative? How can one elicit a narrative or analyze it in research? How can narrative work best be facilitated among older adults? This is the only text to provide comprehensive information about the applications of narrative approaches in community and long-term settings, writing in the virtual world, and such individual work as journaling or poetry. The book explores the theories of narratives across many disciplines, research practices and analytical strategies, and applications in work with older adults.
It has been written by a prominent researcher of the narrative construction of self in old age, whose studies have been funded by the NIH, the Brookdale Foundation, and the Alzheimer's Association, among other related achievements. The book brings together a unique blend of interdisciplinary perspectives and practices not found in other books on life stories, autobiography, and/or narrative approaches to understanding one's experiences. Specifically, it focuses on the myriad theoretical underpinnings of narrative, provides a developmental history of narrative use in gerontology, and details various ways to use narratives in a variety of research settings. Each chapter includes step-by-step guides on who to analyze and report on, and how to write up narrative data. It also discusses ways to incorporate narratives in varied practice settings such as writing workshops in retirement communities, individual writing projects, and others.
Key Features:
Offers a "hands on" research tool that guides the reader from theory to research to practice
Describes the theoretical underpinnings and practical applications of narrative with older adults
Illustrates how narrative gerontology is fundamentally different in practice than narrative research with younger participants
Addresses the breadth of available narrative methods and how to apply them in a research settings
Designed for use in qualitative methods, service learning, and gerontological research courses.
Contents
Foreword
Preface
Part One: Theory
Chapter 1: What's in a Name? Disentangling Narrative, Discourse, Life Story and Other Related Terms
Chapter 2: Narrative Gerontology: Where Have we Been? Where Are we Going?
Chapter 3: Self, Story and Identity
Chapter 4: Telling and Listening: What Happens When a Story is Told?
Chapter 5: Life Stories and Self Stories
Part Two: Conducting Narrative Research
Chapter 6: Truth and Interpretation in Narrative Data
Chapter 7: Power, Positioning and Ethical Considerations in Narrative Research
Chapter 8: Research Interviews: An Overview
Chapter 9: Making Sense of Interview Data
Chapter 10: Reading, Researching and Analyzing Texts
Part Three: Applying Narrative in Practice Settings
Chapter 11: Listening and Being Heard
Chapter 12: Writing and Reminiscence Groups from 1970s to Present
Chapter 13: Facilitating Group Work with Older Adults: Some Practical Considerations
Chapter 14: What Other Stories Can Be Told? Alternative Approaches and Venues
Appendix One: Interview with Joe
Appendix Two: Interview and Letter with Jane
References
