elämäntarinahaastatteluiden

Elämäntarinahaastattelut, often translated as life story interviews or narrative interviews, are a qualitative research method used to collect in-depth information about an individual's life experiences, perspectives, and personal history. The primary goal is to understand the participant's subjective reality and how they make sense of their life events. These interviews typically involve open-ended questions that encourage the narrator to tell their story in their own words, allowing for rich, detailed narratives.

The methodology emphasizes the importance of the individual's voice and agency. Interviewers aim to create a safe and supportive environment where participants feel comfortable sharing personal details. The focus is on understanding the sequence of events, the meanings attributed to these events, and the personal narratives that emerge. This can provide insights into identity formation, life transitions, coping mechanisms, and the impact of social and cultural contexts on individual lives.

Elämäntarinahaastattelut are employed across various disciplines, including sociology, psychology, history, education, and healthcare. They are particularly useful for studying marginalized groups, understanding complex social phenomena, and generating theories grounded in lived experience. The analysis of life story interviews often involves thematic analysis, narrative analysis, or discourse analysis, aiming to identify patterns, themes, and underlying structures within the narratives. The method values the richness and depth of individual experience over statistical generalizability.