The many ways of knowing: Embracing multiplicity in narrative research

In: Qualitative social work: research and practice, Volume 15, Issue 5-6, p. 705-714

Abstract

In this article, I revisit my roots in pursuit of my epistemology. I write about how my mother's story significantly shaped my interest in narrative inquiry. By inviting my mother to tell her story and through the process of shared meaning making, I learn that narrations are temporal and complex. Stories are built on our lived experiences and as our perceptions about those experiences change with time, so do our interpretations of the stories that we live with. Exposing my own limited understanding of a story that is so deeply connected to me, I conclude that the essence of narrative inquiry lies in multiple interpretations and in letting participants have a significant say over the shaping, structuring, and telling of their narratives.