Reflexive Narrative: Self-Inquiry Toward Self-Realization and Its Performance(Qualitative Research Methods)

Reflexive Narrative: Self-Inquiry Toward Self-Realization and Its Performance is latest addition to the Qualitative Research Methods series. Author Christopher Johns describes this unique method and its developmental approach to research to enable researchers’ self-realization however that might be expressed. This method focuses on systematizing the reflective process and providing structure while still remaining flexible to the needs of individual researchers and projects. Researchers collect data through reflections on everyday experiences and then selectively use the evidence of researcher’s insights. The text starts out with a brief introduction to narrative research and reflexivity, situating the method within the larger context of organizational practices. The next chapters introduce the steps for reflexive narrative research and walk readers through the movements of the reflexive narrative process, writing, reflection, dialogue, guidance, weaving, and audiencing. Additional coverage of ethics and research examples provide a foundation for application of the method to individual research. A chapter on structuring the method for a doctoral thesis furthers the applied nature of this method. Three extracts from studies provide research examples across several social science disciplines, including nursing and education. For students and researchers alike looking for new approaches to reflexive methods and looking to expand their ideas about self-research in a qualitative context, Reflexive Narrative provides a starting place for their own examination of self in the context of research.

Table of Contents:
Prologue Acknowledgments About the Author Chapter 1: Contempt: A Barrier to Realizing Leadership Preamble The Narrative Afterword Chapter 2: The Reflexive Narrative Bricolage Reflexive Narrative The Research Spectrum Bricolage Reflective Theory Critical Social Science Hermeneutics Narrative Theory Feminist Slant Women’s Ways of Knowing Non-Western Influence Literary Theory Summary Activity Chapter 3: The Six Dialogical Movements The Six Dialogical Movements Dialogue The Hermeneutic Spiral Summary Activity Chapter 4: Writing Self: The First Dialogical Movement Recall Mimesis and Anti-Mimesis Writing Journal Descriptions Summary Activity Chapter 5: Structured Reflection: The Second Dialogical Movement Structured Reflection Mike Applying the MSR Cues Summary Activity Chapter 6: Drawing Tentative Insights Conceptual Maps The Framing Perspectives Developmental Framing Summary Activity Chapter 7: Cocreating Insights Dialogue With Extant Knowledge: The Third Dialogical Movement Guidance: The Fourth Dialogical Movement The Community of Inquiry No Formal Guidance Summary Activity Chapter 8: Weaving the Reflexive Narrative: The Fifth Dialogical Movement Narrative Time Span Being Creative Magical Realism Writing From the Body Showing Versus Telling Using Tense and Dialogue Giving Voice to Others Using Metaphor Images and Art Narration Writing for Performance Summary Activity Chapter 9: Through a Glass Darkly Preamble Through a Glass Darkly Narrative Activity Chapter 10: Coherence and Ethics Coherence Eyes of Knowing Criteria The Validity Question Rhizomatic Validity Ethics Summary Chapter 11: Audiencing: The Sixth Dialogical Movement Performance Summary Activity Chapter 12: Structuring the Reflexive Thesis Chapter 1 Background Chapter 2 Narrative Construction Chapter 3 The Reflexive Narrative Chapter 4 Deepening the Insights Chapter 5 Reflection on the Journey MSc Leadership in Health Care PhD Program PhD Studies Chapter 13: Concluding Words Appendix A: Illustration of Adenike Akinbode’s Reflexive Narrative Writing Appendix B: Extract From Margaret Graham’s Reflexive Narrative Thesis Appendix C: Reflexive Narrative Publications References Index

About the Author :
Christopher Johns is an internationally acknowledged pioneer in developing reflective practices in health care practice, educational curriculum, and reflexive narrative research. Now an independent consultant, he was previously professor of nursing at the University of Bedfordshire, UK between 1991 and 2016. He convened the International Reflective Practice conferences between 1994 and 2016 and the Reflective Practice Forum in 2011 as a uniquely dialogical approach to conferencing. His recent books are Mindful Leadership (2016) and the fifth edition of his seminal text Becoming a Reflective Practitioner (2017). He lives in Cornwall with his wife Otter. 

Review :
"The author has put a lot of thought and attention into this work. It is very much appreciated. This is the way the field can advance."  "The manuscript is rich with the author′s experience and reads well." "The author is clearly an expert in the research design with her vast wealth of experience."  "The author′s voice is one that commands respect, connection, inspiration, and stimulation. The argument and idea of the book are strong, and highly merit publication." "There is a great need for texts on this subject"