Researcher-Participant Relationship in Narrative Inquiry.

The nature of the researcher-participant relationship in narrative inquiry is explored by reflecting on the researcher's own experience in such a relationship. It is argued that the researcher who wants to make a difference in the lives of participants must be open to change in return. Personal involvement with participants is an essential ingredient in narrative inquiry, but it must not be confused with a mission to save the participants. Learning must be reciprocal, and dialogue that has a significant impact on the participant must transform the researcher as well. The project on which the exploration is based is a narrative inquiry into the cultural identities of four Japanese students and their readjustment in returning to Japan after prolonged study overseas. Participants benefited from being listened to and from being forced to reflect on their own experiences. Participants felt that the research made them focus on their experiences as returnees, and that the self-knowledge they gained was a valuable result of participation. The researcher experienced a similar gain in knowledge and the benefits of self-examination. (Contains 19 references.) (SLD)