Perspectives on narrative methods in social work research

Perspectives on narrative methods in social work researchPerspectives on narrative methods in social work research

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The narrative turn has entered many different academic dis- ciplines and is now also emerging in social work. This article focuses on a discussion of the possibilities and limitations of doing narrative research in social work, including a scrutiny of definitions and of a number of theoretical and methodological arguments often used by some of the leading narrative researchers.

Sam Larsson, Yvonne Sjöblom Department of Social Work, Stockholm University

Key words: narrative inquiry, narrative methods, narrative research in social work, psychology-based approach, sociology-based approach

Sam Larsson, Department of Social Work, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden E-mail: sam.larsson@socarb.su.se

Accepted for publication April 25, 2009

Introduction

Narrative research is a very promising approach for gaining an in-depth understanding of people’s lives (Josselson, 1995; Josselson & Lieblich, 1999; Lieblich, Tuval-Mashiach & Zilber, 1998; Riessman & Quinney, 2005). However, when adopting a narrative strategy in the field of social work, there are many methodological questions and theoretical issues that need to be addressed. The aim of this article is to present a pre- liminary theoretical and methodological discussion of how narrative methods may be used as a research strat- egy in social work, where some of the possibilities and limitations encountered will be explored with particular focus on psychological and sociological approaches to doing narrative research.

Methodology

In order to discuss how narrative methods can be used in social work research and to examine the possibilities and limitations of narrative perspectives in this field, two major theoretical and methodological positions in narrative research are critically examined from the aspects of relevance and implications for narrative research strategies in social work.

One of the positions studied is narrative methods grounded in a psychology-based approach, including humanistic and psychodynamic perspectives (see Crossley, 2000; Josselson & Lieblich, 1995, 1999; Lieblich & Josselson, 1994; Lieblich et al., 1998). The other position represents a sociology-based approach grounded in social constructivism and postmodernism (Crossley, 2000; Riessman, 2002, 2003). Textbooks

and scientific articles written by psychology-based narrative researchers such as Josselson and Lieblich (1995, 1999; Lieblich and Josselson, 1994), as well as by sociology-based narrative researchers such as Riessman (2002, 2003) and Quinney (Riessman & Quinney, 2005), have been studied.

The selection of narrative researchers was guided by the purpose of finding authors who have published extensively over a long period of time. Researchers in the field of narrative psychology, such as Josselson and Lieblich (1995, 1999; Lieblich & Josselson, 1994), who edited six volumes on narrative methods in The Narra- tive Study of Lives Series, represent one important source of knowledge. Others are Atkinson and Delamont (2006) who have edited four volumes on the same topic, and the sociology-based researcher Catherine Riessman who has contributed numerous important articles on narrative methods over the years (see e.g. Riessman, 1993, 2002, 2003; Riessman & Quinney, 2005).

Narrative methods in social work research

Narrative methods can be used as a methodological tool when carrying out investigation and evaluation in social work practice (Martin, 1995, 1999; Payne, 2005; Ruckdeschel, 1999; Shaw & Lishman, 1999). Narrative methods can also be applied as a treatment method in helping clients to consider a reconstruction of their life story that may help them to cope with their life situation in a better way. There are narrative psychotherapeutic strategies based on psychodynamic, cognitive and con- structivist approaches that may be suitable for social work practice (see McLeod, 1997; Miller, 2006; Payne,

DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2397.2009.00672.x Int J Soc Welfare 2010: 19: 272–280

INTERNATIONAL J O U R NA L O F

SOCIAL WELFARE ISSN 1369-6866

Published by Blackwell Publishing, 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford OX4 2DQ, UK and 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148, USA272

2006; White & Epstone, 1990). However, in this article the focus is on narrative methods in the area of social work research, of which there are many examples (Froggett & Chamberlayne, 2004; Poindexter, 2002; Riessman & Quinney, 2005).

Social work practice and social work research are often based on talk and social interaction with clients. A central area in narrative research is human interaction, which in turn is also the core of social work. An important part of both narrative methods and social work practice is the focus on clients’ stories and giving voice to marginalised groups through listening to their stories. Consequently, narrative methods can be of great importance when conducting social work research (Riessman & Quinney, 2005).

A narrative strategy in the research process may be considered a type of case-centred strategy (see Elliott, 2005; Lieblich et al., 1998; Martin, 1995, 1999). For example, narrative methods may be relevant when trying to understand social workers’ interaction pro- cesses with their clients and their talk about those clients with other professionals. But it may also be helpful when studying identities, life stories and stories told by minority and excluded groups in society (Halberstam, 2005; Riessman, 2002). Narra- tive methods are particularly useful when trying to gain an in-depth understanding of the individual (Hollway, Lucey & Phoenix, 2007; Riessman & Quinney, 2005).

Riessman and Quinney (2005) have reviewed how the concept of narrative has entered social work over the past 15 years with special emphasis on research applications. They found that there were few studies of ‘good enough’ quality on narrative research in the field of social work, in contrast to the volume of narrative research in other academic fields such as nursing, edu- cation and other practicing professions (Riessman & Quinney, 2005). A trend reflected in their review is that practice knowledge from narrative theory is more developed than the application of narrative methods in social work research. According to Riessman, social work has embraced narrative concepts in research applications to only a limited degree (Riessman, 2008; Riessman & Quinney, 2005).

Riessman and Quinney (2005) give several tenta- tive suggestions as to how we may understand these findings. They consider different explanations. Narra- tive inquiry is cross-disciplinary and based on different epistemologies, theories and methods. The research is time-consuming and the ethical questions involved complicated. One conclusion from their review seems to be that narrative research opens up for creative collaborative research. However, narrative methods represent a challenge in social work research because of the great amount of theory, methodology and epistemology involved that typically lies outside

the usual professional canon (see Riessman & Quinney, 2005).

Definitions and perspectives on social work and the connection to narrative methods

In 2007, the International Federation of Social Workers adopted the following definition of social work:

The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environ- ments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamentals of social work (IFSW, 2000, cited in Wilson, Ruch, Lymbery & Cooper, 2008: 49).

According to the influential researcher Elizabeth Hutchison (2008), social work is multidimensional and involves the complex analysis of the personal, environmental and time dimensions of human behav- iour. Hutchison points out the need to consider both psychological and sociological perspectives in order to analyse the multifaceted interaction between the per- sonal and situational factors involved in the different psychosocial problems found in the field of social work. However, these dimensions are not to be seen in terms of a causal relationship; instead, they are embedded in each other and reveal many possible analyses in social work practice and research (Hutchison, 2008). According to Hutchison, all of us are engaged in a process of constructing a personal narrative that determines our understanding of our- selves. However, Hutchison considers narrative theory a relatively new approach in social work practice and the meaning of narrative methods for social work is not considered in any detail. Perspectives on narrative methods in social work research

An important source in the field of social work is the influential text by Malcolm Payne, Modern Social Work Theory (2005). Payne also argues for a multidimen- sional perspective when defining and analysing the social work field, pointing out the need to consider both psychological and sociological theories in the under- standing of social work. He also argues for the impor- tance of listening to histories and narratives from people seeking help and that narratives are a focus for understanding and changing people’s social identities, roles and social constructions (p. 162). Treatment inter- ventions may reconstruct narratives towards the change construction of future social events (p. 173). Payne points at important links between the understanding of social work and the use of narrative methods. However, the narrative principles for social work are discussed