Alan Floyd

Life History and Narrative Research

This session will introduce students to Narrative and Life History research.  The origins of the methodology will be explored, together with its epistemological and ontological underpinnings.  Using examples from previous studies, alongside students’ own experiences, we will explore some of the advantages and disadvantages of adopting this approach and discuss some possible guidelines for undertaking such research.  Students will also be introduced to different ways of analysing narrative and life history data.

Life history and narrative

Insider Research: Issues and Dilemmas

Within the field of education, the number of people undertaking research within their own institution is rising.  Often, though, some of the ethical challenges that such ‘insider researchers’ may have to face are not necessarily covered in introductory research methods textbooks or indeed by the process of gaining ethical approval.  In this session, we will examine the superficial and deep ethical and moral dilemmas confronting ‘insider’ researchers, which I term external and internal ethical engagement.  External ethical engagement refers to the traditional, easily identifiable ethical issues that insider researchers attend to by submitting their application for ethical approval to their institution’s internal review board.  Internal ethical engagement relates to the deeper level dilemmas that insider researchers have to deal with once ‘in the field’ linked to ongoing personal and professional relationships with participants, insider knowledge, conflicting professional and researcher roles, and anonymity.  By drawing on the presenter’s experiences of running ‘insider’ research projects, alongside students’ own experiences, such key issues will be explored and discussed.

Insider research

Insider research article