Lives in Context: The Art of Life History Research

Introduction: Researching Memory and Generation

“…Memory thus acts as an orienting force and 'there are times when a very specific vision of the future frames the utilization of the past' (Irwin-Zarecka 1994: 101). As I show at different points in this 9 On this matter see also Cole and Knowles 2001;Friedman 1992;Jureit 2009.…”

Resisting Negative Images and Stereotypes: One Latina Prospective Teacher’s Story

“…Life history was chosen as an appropriate methodology because, as Cole and Knowles (2001) have written, life history research is about "gaining insights into the broader human condition by coming to know and understand the experiences of others" within situated contexts (p. 11). The aim of the larger project is to better understand how Latino preservice teachers experience success in their teacher education program, and how they and others speak about their successes.…”

Haunted by a 'Present Absence'

“…I used semi-structured individual 'guided conversations' (Cole and Knowles 2001) of about one and a half to two hours, and three follow-up group interviews of one hour, each with about seven women. The aim of the group interview was to facilitate a shared discussion that generated a different kind of talk because it was amongst other women whom the participants knew to share their experience in some way.…”