Narrative Inquiry as Reflective Practice

Abstract

In this chapter we take up the task of exploring the intersections, overlaps and tensions between narrative inquiry and reflective inquiry. As each have roots in John Dewey’s philosophy of experience, we begin with a brief explanation of how Dewey understood human experience as an unfolding inquiry. From this common ground we then engage in a showing rather than a telling of narrative inquiry, foregrounding key concepts and terms as we go in order to hold them next to our understandings of those of reflective inquiry. We consider each form of inquiry in terms of situation, method, the place of unexpectedness, and perspective. We then continue to unfold the narrative inquiry to better understand the commonalities and differences in the “end games” or broader goals of these two forms of inquiry. As we reflect on our journey, we now see the terrain we trudged, and particularly places we bogged down as one way of traversing the intersections, overlaps and tensions between narrative inquiry and reflective inquiry. We understand the product of this wandering as less a map than a story, one meant not to conclude but rather to invite others in to these wonders.