Date: Tuesday 5th August 2008

Time: 9:45am – 4pm

Venue: Institute of Life Science, School of Medicine, Swansea University

By letting stories breathe, I call attention to the capacity of stories to act: stories act for people, but they also act on people. The workshop has two halves. The first half explores what makes a story unique among other representational forms; what kind of narrative is or is not a story? We then consider what stories do; why are they necessary equipment for being human? In particular, how are stories dangerous, as well as being helpful?

The second part of the workshop turns to narrative analysis; how to analyze stories in action, breathing rather than dissected. Sample questions of narrative interviewing are discussed, and techniques of dialogical narrative analysis are presented.

The workshop draws upon Actor-Network-Theory, Institutional Ethnography, and the theories of Bourdieu, Elias and Foucault, among others.

The Masterclass comprises: theory development, interactive group working and group discussion. 

It is aimed at healthcare professionals, researchers, students, social scientists and academics interested in research and ways in which notions of  'best practice' and 'evidence' can be broadened. Masterclasses build on the 2001-7 Series and are relevant to those who attended these events as well as to newcomers. No prior knowledge of the area will be assumed.

For futher information or to reserve a place on the course, please contact Ms Vicky Davies on Tel: +44 (0)1792 513407 or email v.i.davies@swansea.ac.uk.