Short narratives as a qualitative approach to effects of social work interventions

Abstract

In this article we want to contribute theoretically and methodologically towards a qualitative approach to effects of social work interventions. We develop a relational understanding of effects, based on actor-network theory combined with narrative analysis. The central actor-network theory concepts, actant and translation, are introduced, arguing that social work interventions and their consequences are evolving through current adaption (translation) in networks where human actors and non-human entities (actants) are ascribed agency in narrative accounts. This is done with reference to an empirical study of the content and consequences of employment efforts, seen from the perspective of cash benefit recipients. In this study, short narratives were used to trace changes in cash benefit recipients’ experience of work identity when they were participating in employment efforts. We argue that our approach to the effects of social work interventions is not limited to studies on employment efforts. It can also be applied in other fields of social work to gain knowledge from the point of view of primary producers of social work, that is clients and social workers.