"Bet you think this song is about you": Whose Narrative Is It in Narrative Research?

Authors

  • Ruthellen Josselson Fielding Graduate University

Abstract

This paper examines the dilemmas in narrative research created by the gaps between the authority of experience (the participant’s understanding of his or her life) and the authority of expertise (the researcher’s interpretive analysis of that life). It raises the question of who, at various levels, "owns" the narrative. Using a detailed case example, the paper explores the relationship between authority and authorship as it contrasts the researcher’s intention and the participant’s reactions to what is presented. Ethical dilemmas that ensue are not easily managed, but a suggestion is offered. The dynamics of narcissism that underlie the interpersonal stress of telling another’s life are also considered.

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Published

2011-01-01

How to Cite

Josselson, R. (2011). "Bet you think this song is about you": Whose Narrative Is It in Narrative Research?. Narrative Works, 1(1). Retrieved from https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/NW/article/view/18472

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2011)

Section

Invited Articles

License

Copyright for articles published in Narrative Works is retained by the author(s), with first publication rights granted to Narrative Works. By virtue of their appearance in this open access journal, articles are free to use, with proper attribution, in educational and other non-commercial settings.