Narrative interviewing: process and benefits in teaching about aging and the life course

Narrative interviewing (also termed qualitative interviewing) is a valid and vivid way to apply perspectives and concepts in gerontology to individual lives. As such it is widely used as a research method. However, teachers in many fields also assign interview projects for students, as supplemental assignments in aging-related courses. This article clarifies key assumptions and goals of narrative interviewing, in relation to other approaches to interviewing in the social sciences and humanities; discusses the distinctive relevance of narrative interview projects for teaching about aging; recounts steps in the interview process in connection with both classroom and individual work with students; and addresses practical and ethical issues that teachers should anticipate and address to ensure successful projects. Topics and results of narrative interview projects are illustrated with reference to student research which the author has supervised.