Biographical method

ROBERT MILLER

The biographical method is the collection and analysis of an intensive account of a whole life or portion of a life, usually by an in-depth, unstructured interview. The account may be reinforced by semi-structured interviewing or personal documents. Rather than concentrating upon a ‘snapshot’ of an individual's present situation, the biographical approach emphasises the placement of the individual within a nexus of social connections, historical events and life experiences (the life history). An important sub-stream of the method focuses upon the manner in which the respondent actively constructs a narrative of their life in response to the social context at the time of interview (the life story). ‘The biographical perspective’ and the use of life histories as a method of social research has a long pedigree, stretching back to Thomas and Znanicki's highly influential The Polish Peasant in Europe and America (1918-20), which devoted a whole volume to the Credit ...

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About this title
- Have you ever wondered what a concise, comprehensive book providing critical guidance to the whole expanse of social science research methods and issues might look like? The A-Z is a collection of 94 entries ranging from qualitative research techniques to statistical testing and the practicalities of using the Internet as a research tool. Alphabetically arranged in accessible, reader-friendly formats, the shortest entries are 800 words long and the longest are 3000. Most entries are approximately 1500 words in length and are supported by suggestions for further reading. The book: answers the demand for a practical, fast and concise introduction to the key concepts and methods in social research; supplies students with impeccable information that can be used in essays, exams and research projects; and demystifies a field that students often find daunting. This is a book on social research methods, which understands the pressures that modern students face in their work-load and seeks to supply an authoritative study guide to the field.
Table of contents
- - Front Matter
Methods Map
- Research Terms
- Key People
Historical research
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