Sharing stories: life history narratives in stuttering research.
The life experiences of people who stutter (PWS) have not featured prominently in research. Historically, the profession of speech and language therapy has amassed data and developed its theory of stuttering within a positivistic frame. As a consequence, the existing over-arching theory of research and practice does not engage holistically with the dynamic personal, socio-cultural and political contexts of the individual who stutters. Therefore a conceptual shift is required in ontology, epistemology and methodology underpinning the knowledge construction process. The use of the life history narratives as a research tool is promoted. An exploratory study of a single participant is presented to illuminate the methodological approach and emerging theoretical constructs.
Kathard
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Discipline of Speech and Hearing Therapy, School of Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Sciences, University of Durban-Westville, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. hkathard@pixie.udw.ac.za
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D013342:Stuttering / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*