EDUC47510: Narrative Inquiry - Methodology and Methods

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• This module aims to explore the philosophical, empirical and analytical debates and practices central to the field of narrative inquiry as an approach in educational research and allied fields. Narrative inquiry is the umbrella term for approaches aimed at understanding the human dimensions of lived experience over time and in personal context.
• The module considers narrative inquiry as both a methodology and wide range of methods used in the unearthing of human experience through the collection and analysis of data in narrative form. The module will cover a broad range of approaches to and methods for developing and understanding educational and allied research centred on such narrative accounts of lived experience.
• The module aims to:
• Introduce students to key discussions pertaining to narrative inquiry research practices.
• Engage students in ontological and epistemological debates pertaining to narrative inquiry as both a methodology and range of methods.
• Familiarise students with the design of narrative inquiry studies from conceptualisation and operationalisation of research tools to analysis of narrative data.

• Exploring the philosophical and theoretical foundations of narrative inquiry.
• Outlining the key characteristics of narrative inquiry.
• Exploring the range of narrative inquiry methods.
• Considering the ethical implications of narrative inquiry.
• Formulating research questions for a narrative inquiry study.
• Designing a narrative inquiry study.
• Conceptualising and operationalising narrative inquiry tools.
• Exploring narrative inquiry data analysis and (re)presentation techniques.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• By the end of the module students will be able to:
• Show knowledge of and engagement with the philosophical (ontological and epistemological) stances that guide narrative inquiry studies.
• Show a critical understanding of the key principles that underpin narrative inquiry research.
• Show development of an informed and critical understanding of narrative inquiry research in the context of knowledge of other qualitative methods and approaches.

Subject-specific Skills:

• Identify and explain a range of narrative inquiry methods.
• Design and operationalise research tools relevant to narrative inquiry.
• Analyse narrative data in a critical fashion.
• Critically discuss specialist research methods literature related to narrative inquiry research.

Key Skills:

• Demonstrate the ability to engage with academic reading and critique in the field of narrative inquiry.
• Demonstrate the ability to analyse and interpret narrative data.
• Demonstrate the ability to produce academic writing that engages with the field of narrative inquiry.
• Demonstrate the ability to think critically about narrative inquiry literature and narrative data.

• Workshops/ interactive sessions - workshops will be interactive and rely on students preparatory work (readings supported by a designated reading card to guide students preparatory work which will be undertaken in peer groups) as well as classroom participation.
• Small sections of tutor-led content.
• Peer and tutor-led discussion groups.
• Practical exercises analysing narrative inquiry publications; conceptualising research questions and operationalising tools of data collection; data analysis.
• Summative assessment - collection and analysis of a narrative data set; this may include interview transcripts, diaries, reflective blogposts etc. The assessment - a 2500 word essay - will consist of three steps:
• 1. A critical account of the development and application of the research tools.
• 2. A reflection of the analytical approaches employed.
• 3. A short discussion of the analysis.

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