Life Histories Flashcards
a ‘Life History’ is an account of a person’s l___ which they tell to who?
life
the researcher
‘Life Histories’ usually take which form?
{ 2 adjectives}
relaxed, informal interview
Which sociologists favor life histories?
interpretivists
Why do interpretivists favor Life Histories?
its a qualitative method that helps researchers understand how people interpret their lives.
The first case study of a Life History that is done by Bogdan is called?
‘Jane Fry, a transexual’
Bogdan’s study into Jane Fry consisted of how many hours of informal conversation?
100 hours
{BOGDAN} Jane Fry’s life history took place over how many months in the 1970s?
3 months
{BOGDAN} According to Jane Fry, transexualism is a ra___ & rea__ choice
rational
reasonable
the second case study for ‘Life Histories’ is by Chamberlain and is called?
‘narratives of exile & return’
{CHAMBERLAIN} : spoke to several g___ of migrants from which country?
generations
barbadians
{CHAMBERLAIN} : found that there was a common urge to ? among early migrants
return
An usual {PRACTICAL} advantage of Life Histories is that they can offer new ? to investigate
areas
{PRACTICAL ADVANTAGE} : can offer the social actors ___ of a unique area of social life that might’ve been hidden to?
view
outsiders
An {ETHICAL} benefit of Life Histories is that its easy to obtain? why?
informed consent
the focus of the research is the participants life, so they MUST know what’s going on
A {THEORETICAL} advantage of Life Histories is that they’re likely to achive?
verstehen
(the understanding, comprehension and acknowledgement of the significance of a social phenomenon)
{THEORETICAL ADVANTAGE} : Life Histories offer a real insight into an aspect of behaviour because they use the perspectives of what type of people?
this then uncovers a social ?
ordinary
reality
A {PRACTICAL} limitation of Life Histories could be that they rely massively on what?
memory
{PRACTICAL LIMITATION} : Due to this reliance, the participant may either be s__ with their recall or just not remember at all.
selective
An {ETHICAL} limitation of Life Histories is that the researcher risks causing what?
harm to participants
{ETHICAL LIMITATION} : If sensitive topics arise,
the participant might become un___ and not want to answer or give a dis___ answer.
Such topics can lead to l___ - term emotional or p___ impacts, for which the researcher would be r_______ for
uncomfortable
dishonest
long
psychological
responsible
A {THEORETICAL} limitation of Life Histories is that they aren’t ?
this is because they usually focus on o__ particular individual/small group.
representative
one
