Brigham Young University
by Toni Pilcher
Stories of the natural world can re-wild and enhance qualitative research in education. As some qualitative researchers shift from seeing themselves as mere instruments and instead as storytellers, shifting from tool to artist, we seek meaningful metaphors for the complex interactions and experiences we examine. In my experience, qualitative storytelling can be enriched as we borrow stories from the life sciences and use them as metaphors, thus engaging in a more-than-human endeavor that honors the role of the natural world as both context of and actor in our human experiences. In this paper, I will share some of the life science stories—drawing from our understanding of ecosystems, mycelium, rivers, and more—that have shaped and added new dimensions to my qualitative research process. For me, storytelling has brought together the social sciences, the humanities, and the natural sciences.