Narrative Means to Different Ends: A Commentary

My commentary on an article, Narrative Therapy and Elders with Memory Loss, by Elizabeth Young to appear in the Journal of Clinical Social Work. Narrative Means to Different Ends

Thomas Barone's article

Action research meets narrative inquiry

Journals, blogs and other resources from the web

The narrative turn and the how of narrative inquiry.(Editor's Column)(Editorial)

Jeffrey Keefer's Web Page Blog on his narrative research

Narrative Inquiry for Teaching, Learning and Research

Course description: Narrative Inquiry for Teaching, Learning, and Research

Draft prepared by Suzanne England
January 31, 2010

“Narrative inquiry helps us to challenge received wisdoms [and] explore new ways of looking and seeing …”

This course introduces the student to the theories and tools of narrative inquiry and how they may be used in research, teaching, and writing in social work. Narrative inquiry shares a number of assumptions with narrative practice and therapy but is different in purpose and the tools that are used. Using techniques of deconstruction from literary criticism and interpretive methods in the social sciences, narrative inquiry is aimed primarily at opening up space for new ways of thinking about ethics, professional, organizational and social practices, and consideration of the ways that language exposes power relations and political agendas. The major assignment for the course is a paper prepared for potential publication or a multimedia presentation for dissemination on the web. The course stresses collaborative learning, and will draw upon data from traditional quantitative studies, literature, mainstream media, websites, blogs, and social media to reflect on the social construction of social work practice and theory, and the ways that academic discourses shape knowledge production and claims.

Narrative, Communication and Advocacy in a Mass/Social Media World

Course description: Social Justice in a Digital World: Narrative, New Media, and Advocacy

Proposed bachelor’s level elective (could be open to MSWs)

Prepared by Suzanne England
January 31, 2010

This course focuses on language and narrative--written, oral, and graphic—and the ways that experience, life views, and power are communicated in order to control or change social relations. Communication shapes our perceptions of the world and of social problems and solutions. The tools of narrative inquiry can deepen our awareness of how language constructs our discourses about events, public policy, professional practices, and politics, and the particular ways that mass and social media shape our understanding and behavior. Using a collaborative learning model the course is designed for active reflexive participation. All participants, including the instructor, will be expected to develop a critical analysis of a public debate, examine the narratives and modes of communication of advocacy networks and movements, and critically reflect upon the narrative construction of normalcy and otherness.