Centre for Narrative Research

What is CNR?

Centre Objectives

• To serve as the national centre for social-scientific work on narrative, and as a focus for international research in this area.
• To produce a distinctive strand of publications on narrative in the social sciences, in the form of books and journal articles; to arrange seminars and day conferences, some academic, some with broader appeal; to organise external conference symposia.
• To pursue external funding for individual and collaborative empirical projects developed by Centre members.
• To support and encourage the work of graduate students associated with the Centre.
• To develop research collaborations, nationally and internationally, with visitors from other institutions.

Structure

The Centre is located in the School of Social Sciences, Media and Cultural Studies, http://www.uel.ac.uk/ssmcs/  at UEL’s Docklands Campus. The location allows close links with colleagues across programmes in Social Sciences, Media and Cultural Studies.  The Centre also collaborates with related University projects in the Schools of Psychology, Education and Arts, as well as with many colleagues in the Tavistock Centre

Summary of Existing Research Projects and Future Plans

The codirectors and other members of the Centre have collaborated to produce an edited book on narrative in the social sciences (Lines of Narrative, M. Andrews, S. Sclater, C. Squire and A. Treacher, ed.s, Routledge, 2000; republished as Uses of Narrative, New Jersey: 2004). Forthcoming in 2008 is Doing Narrative Research (eds M. Andrews, C.Squire and M, Tamboukou, London: Sage). Centre members are widely published nationally and internationally in the field of social science narratives. They are engaged in a large number of research projects relevant to the Centre, on for instance: narratives of gender and generation, and of forgiveness (Dr. Andrews); narratives of HIV and genre in psychology (Prof. Squire) and life writing through art, autobiography diaries and letter-writing (Dr. Tamboukou).

The Centre runs a series of 'Narrative Methods' training days and several Masters level modules in narrative research and analysis. It also organises a series of research seminars and, with the Gender Institute at LSE, a programme of graduate research seminars. Many research students are based in the Centre, as are a number of Visiting Fellows. In 2008 we are pleased to host as Senior Visiting Fellows Professor Catherine Riessman, and Professor Jens Brockmeier.

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© 2008