...no story is unidimensional in its voice. A story may have melody, pitch and loudness,.. which
comprises many interwoven, sometimes conflicting, themes and forms, which may be
characterised by structure, style, coherence and other attributes. P 168.
So what criteria do they suggest for evaluating narratives? Following their review of how other
authors have proposed the evaluation of case studies, narratives and so on, they identify four
criteria.
Comprehensiveness: In relation to teaching portfolios, this would encompass the range of
experience included in the narrative as well as the range of proposed interpretations and the
amount of supporting evidence.
Coherence: This refers to an evaluation of how well the different parts of the analysis and
interpretation are integrated and provide a ‘complete and meaningful’ picture. Included in this
aspect is how well the narrative is integrated with existing theory and research.
Insightfulness: Included in this aspect is an evaluation of how innovative or original the narrative
is. The crucial element is to judge how far there is insight into the ‘reader’s’ own life as a result of
reading the narrative?
‘Parsimony’: This aspect encompasses an evaluation of how readily one is able to provide an
analysis of a small amount of the narrative. Included in this scope would be how accessible a
narrative is. In turn, this enables the evaluator to make a judgement about the aesthetic merit of
the narrative –its literary appeal - a good story has to be well written.
If we return to my original story, it is too short to ascertain whether it provides a comprehensive
account of myself as a facilitator but does suffice to demonstrate insightfulness and coherence.
The reader may judge its literary appeal!
The ‘truth’ is out there.......
Of course, one might always raise the objection that by recognising the story-like quality of
reflective practice one is prey to the enduring challenge that it is not the experience we are
examining but the way it has been articulated. So where does this leave us? We have some
principles about being critical and reflective and we have guidelines on how to tell a good story but
are we able to go beyond this? Yes we can. Firstly, the analysis of stories as described here leads
to new insights and reflections being generated through the telling. Secondly, we might consider
recent philosophical thinking on the subject. In Truth: A Guide for the Perplexed, Simon Blackburn
(2005) explores the nature of truth. To cut a long story short, he concludes that there is a truth,
albeit one that we are unable to sustain as the one and only truth. In his examination of absolutist
as opposed to relativist perspectives and the challenge of postmodernist thought he finds the
solution to our dilemma to be normative. Blackburn acknowledges the contributions that disparate
philosophies have made to our understanding of the world and that the world of images and
scenarios do not represent reality. However, the world is also a concrete place where things work,
or not and where actions have real effects.
THE CENTRE FOR RECORDING ACHIEVEMENT 104 -108 WALLGATE, WIGAN, WN3 4AB |
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