Narrative Inquiry and the Power of Stories: Chandra's Voice
Location
1049
Format Type
Event
Format Type
Paper
Start Date
January 2018
End Date
January 2018
Abstract
This paper presentation will share the story of Chandra (her real name), as produced through the qualitative methodology of narrative inquiry. Chandra is a middle-aged, Guyanese-American woman attending an adult education center in the Northeast United States. She grew up in extreme poverty in Guyana, and was taken out of school at age eight to help meet the family’s basic needs. At age 22, she immigrated to the United States in hopes of better opportunities. Through narrative methods, Chandra’s story was constructed from 34, narrative and expository, written texts that she composed for a literacy tutoring program, as well as three, in-depth, oral interviews. The result is a moving account of Chandra’s childhood in Guyana, immigration and acculturation in the United States, and her determination to continue her education despite the obstacles she has faced. The presentation will discuss Chandra's story, as well as how to conduct narrative inquiry, and its methodological strengths and challenges.
Narrative Inquiry and the Power of Stories: Chandra's Voice
1049
This paper presentation will share the story of Chandra (her real name), as produced through the qualitative methodology of narrative inquiry. Chandra is a middle-aged, Guyanese-American woman attending an adult education center in the Northeast United States. She grew up in extreme poverty in Guyana, and was taken out of school at age eight to help meet the family’s basic needs. At age 22, she immigrated to the United States in hopes of better opportunities. Through narrative methods, Chandra’s story was constructed from 34, narrative and expository, written texts that she composed for a literacy tutoring program, as well as three, in-depth, oral interviews. The result is a moving account of Chandra’s childhood in Guyana, immigration and acculturation in the United States, and her determination to continue her education despite the obstacles she has faced. The presentation will discuss Chandra's story, as well as how to conduct narrative inquiry, and its methodological strengths and challenges.
Comments
Breakout Session A