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Biographical learning: Two decades of research and discussion AbstractThe article discusses the concept of biographical learning and reviews previous research on the subject. Several tensions between different versions of the concept are recognized, and a wide range of research areas in which the concept has been used are identified and presented.The general idea in the biographical learning tradition regarding the occurrence of general conceptions of one's biography, as well as the idea of narrative coherence, is discussed critically. New areas of research are suggested.3

In this article we make a contribution to the development of a narrative approach to biographical learning; that is, an approach that considers autobiographical storytelling as a practice through which claims about life history are performed and negotiated. Doing this, we recognize the variety in people's way of making autobiographical narratives. Using insights from narrative theory, we highlight evaluations in narratives and suggest their crucial role in promoting reflexivity. The research area is unemployment, more specifically, work transitions following company restructuring and redundancy supported by outplacement services. Recognizing the learning potential in making autobiographical narratives, the article examines job-loss narratives told by people made redundant. The analysis focuses on strategies used in moments of evaluation. Our findings point to a variety of evaluative strategies and different kinds of reflexivity and, in turn, variation in the potential for biographical learning.

Chemoradiotherapy is the standard of care for inoperable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This treatment, however, offers only a small chance of cure and is associated with many side effects. Little research has been made concerning which patients benefit most/least from the treatment. The present study evaluates the prognostic value of anemia, leukocytosis and thrombocytosis at diagnosis in this treatment setting. In the present study, data were collected retrospectively for 222 patients from two different phase II studies conducted between 2002-2007 in Sweden with patients treated with chemoradiotherapy for stage IIIA-IIIB NSCLC. Clinical data and the serum values of hemoglobin (Hgb), White blood cells (WBC) and Platelets (Plt) at enrollment were collected for all patients and studied in relation to overall survival using Kaplan-Meier product-limit estimates and a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model. The results showed that patients with thrombocytosis (Plt > 350 x 109/L) had a shorter median overall survival (14.5 months) than patients with normal Plt at baseline (23.7 months). Patients with leukocytosis (WBC > 9 x 109/L) had a shorter median survival (14.9 months) than patients with a normal WBC at baseline (22.5 months). However, in a multivariate model including all lab parameters and clinical factors, only thrombocytosis and performance status displayed a prognostic significance. In Conclusion, thrombocytosis showed to be an independent prognostic marker associated with shorter overall survival in stage III NSCLC treated with curatively intended chemoradiotherapy. This knowledge can potentially be used together with established prognostic factors, such as performance status when choosing the optimal therapy for the individual patient in this clinical setting.

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Objective: This article examines how workers supported by outplacement services engage with an occupational transition through problem solving and learning. Participants: The participants were 23 mid-life redundant white collar workers with at least eight years in their sector, organization or occupation. The selected interviewees either participated in training to broaden their professional competence or did not make any such 'expansive' efforts. Methods: The study was based on narrative interviews, which enabled a detailed cross case examination of individuals' actions and choices and how the process unfolds over time. Results: The results showed that people treat their job loss as a practical problem to be solved using various strategies. This problemsolving process is structured, with people passing similar crossroads defining particular challenges and opportunities giving people limited sets of choices. Conclusion: The results point to the significance of creativity and learning in occupational transitions.