The Turn to Biographical Methods in Social Science - 9780415228374

Taylor & Francis

Biographical research methods have become a useful and popular tool for contemporary social scientists. This book combines an exploration of the historical and philosophical origins of this important field of qualitative research. > \nBiographical research methods have become a useful and popular tool for contemporary social scientists. This book combines an exploration of the historical and philosophical origins of this important field of qualitative research with comparative examples of the different ways that biographical methods have been successfully applied internationally. Through these many illustrative examples of socio-biography in process the authors show how formal textual analysis, whilst uncovering hidden emotional defences, can also shed light on wider historical processes of societal transformation. \nTopics discussed include: \n*individual and linked lives \n*generational change \n*political influences on memory and identity \n*biographical work in reflexive socie.