On Narrative Inquiry: Approaches to Language and Literacy

by Dave Schaafsma, Ruth Vinz, Randi Dickson

Can stories about students and classrooms be the basis for meaningful research? In this book, the authors describe and tell illustrative stories about the potential and limits of narrative for the purpose of inquiry in English education. They argue that narrative inquiry is uniquely suited to the questions educators are asking in the field today. This book introduces us to narrative scholars who engage us in philosophical and methodological discussions and it describes how narrative works in relation to the telling of a story or stories. It also provides examples of narrative inquiry to inspire you to create academic work that is both imaginative and responsible. On Narrative Inquiry will be useful to graduate students and novice and experienced researchers who want to learn more about the range of methodological considerations for compiling and presenting narrative accounts. Book

Genres: Academic, Nonfiction

160 pages, Hardcover

First published March 3, 2011

About the author

Dave Schaafsma is a Professor of English at the University of Illinois at Chicago where he directs the Program in English Education. He teaches courses in English teaching methods, and literature. He's the author or co-editor of six books and is in the process of writing more, but I am not here on Goodreads to promote my writing; this is a reading site.

I guess I should say that I almost never accept friend requests from folks who do not review or almost never review. Nothing personal, but that is what "following" is for. I mean, you don't have to be my friend to like my reviews or comment on them, but if you never share any of your thoughts via reviews of books you've read, then it feels like a kinda one-sided friendship, right?

I can also say that once in a while I clear out my friends list if I can see we never connect in any way. Again, nothing personal. Happy reading!

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote this book with former colleague Ruth Vinz, and we invited in friend and former student Randi Dickson to write a chapter, we invited Ruth's students Sara Brock and Nick Sousanis. The idea is that this is a book about research methodology using the methodology we espouse...Was a great experience writing it, a real joy! I miss Ruth a lot and we will write again together.

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful introduction to an intriguing method of conducting research. Like most guidebooks, that give the reader a taste and expect the tantalized to seek out other sources - kind of like an endless loop of fact checking. For some, this would be their cue to slam the book on the desk, flip the desk and storm out of the seminar room. For me, I was completely spellbound with the effective choices of words and ideas. From Socrates' allegorical cave to Clandinin & Connelly genre establishing handbook, there are some bold choices on offer. Ruth Vinz encapsulates issues that will present itself in the field with her student's encounter with the boy inside the box. Other research methods could have reported the same event, but not make the tension and apprehension come alive as this well-narrated moment. And rather than trading off chapters between the two main authors, their ideas fuse together while they also give space (a chapter or two each) to their students whose dissertations are invigorating steps forward for this methodology. David Schaafsma kindly invites the reader to do research differently, and I've gone with the purple pill - Matrix fans can sort out what this means.

[Anterobot Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Method as practice as narrative as invitation.

Lit review as storytelling feels compelling.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate this book not only because it offers insight into the narrative inquiry process, but because it invites the reader to engage in the process throughout. As a "new" student all over again, I have many questions about how our stories and writing and research shape our realities...and am continuously intrigued by how others' experiences add color and vibrance to the work we do in our lives, both personally and professionally. This is a wonderful book because it provides context for those experiences, and it pushes us to think further about storytelling in a way that is meaningful and relevant, no matter what path we take in this world.

[Kelli Rushek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This research methods book, put simply, talks the talk and walks the walk. It is contextual, nuanced, and illuminates how a researcher can inquire from and through narrative.