Developing Narrative Theory

Ivor F. Goodson is International Professor of Sociology at the University of Tallinn, Estonia and Professor of Learning Theory in the School of Education at the University of Brighton, UK.

• Section 1 Studying Life Narratives 1. Introduction: studying life stories and life histories 2. The growth of individual life stories in contemporary life 3. Contemporary patterns in life stories 4. Studying Storylines: life history and personal representations 5. Developing narrative portrayals Section 2 On Forms of Narrativity 6. Studying Storylines 7. Scripted describers 8. Armchair elaborators 9. Multiple describers 10. Focussed elaborators 11. Re-selfing, reflexivity and hybridity 12. Narrativity, learning and reflexibility

"This book is invaluable reading for those engaged in or interested in narrative methodology. It provides an in-depth discussion of the development of narrative portrayals and the significance of different patterns of narrative. The process of narrative portrayal is also exemplified through examples drawn from the repertoire of Goodson’s various life history projects, which he uses to provide the reader with insights into how people employ different patterns and forms of narrativity and action to ‘provide an anchor, a sense of stability, continuity and coherence in a world of fast and often bemusing change’ (p.115). But Goodson is not positing a utopian vision here, rather he suggests that the meta-narratives of modern life will pose ‘seismic challenges for people’s identity projects and life politics’ (p.120) and perhaps most acutely for the youngest generations coming through. The final chapters of this book will leave readers in no doubt of the significance of narrative in modern life, and provide a fitting antithesis to critics of narrative methodologies tempted to discard them as ‘just stories.’" — Keith Turvey, Research in Education