Narratives and Fictions in Educational Research

Book excerpt: "In this bold and very important work, Peter Clough shows how the truths about educational issues can be told using fictional devices. This work legitimates the narrative turn in the human disciplines. He shows educational researchers how narrative inquiry can be used for progressive moral and political purposes". - Norman K. Denzin, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign This compelling book takes a fresh approach to educational research, considering the role and use of literary and ethnographic approaches. There is growing interest in the use of narrative and fictional methods and this book sets out to: * locate narrative and fictional methods within the traditions of education research; * exemplify the use of narrative in studies of educational and social settings; * explain the processes of composing narrative and fictional research A distinctive feature of the book is the inclusion of five 'fictional' stories which demonstrate the use of narrative in reporting research. Detailed discussion of these five stories shows how they were created from actual events and the varied role of the author in their creation. The methodological implications of such an approach are considered along with its potential merits and difficulties and its possible uses.