Life History in Qualitative Research: the case of Beatriz

 Already in the master's study, completed in 2018 (ALVES, 2018), the Life History method aroused great interest and, in fact, it was the methodological path chosen and followed with some difficulties, but also with rich learning experiences. The Life History method carried out at the time with two participants with intellectual disabilities underwent methodological adjustments that considered their specificities and was inspired by Rosana Glat who, in 1989, used it with women with intellectual disabilities who elaborated on their lives at a time when it was not common to hear their voices (GLAT, 2009). Since then, the interest in the method has not decreased, rather, it has increased to the extent that the knowledge about other authors who have used it in different ways has also evolved, highlighting among them, Anabel Moriña (MORIÑA, 2016).

Life History is a method with the necessary depth to understand human conflicts, especially those that are silenced and remain at the margins of society. However, the richness of this method and the diversity of instruments that can be used to compose the life history is little known, which generates doubts about its performance, validity and scientificity. In view of this concern, still at the beginning of the doctoral course I attended the discipline entitled “TOPICOS ESPECIALES: Investigar con historias de vida en estudios con personas con colectivos vulnerable” taught by Professor Anabel Moriña, from Spain, which took place at UNESP/Marília in the second semester of 2019.

Anabel has experience and extensive knowledge about the different possibilities of the method. Her publications published in Spain, where she lives, in the field of Special Education became a reference for this study, opening new paths and a new look for use in the collection for her doctorate, originating the text that gave life to this book, whose aim is to help researchers who want to appropriate and deepen their knowledge through listening to human life stories.

Based on this assumption, what we propose in this study is one of the different ways of researching with this method beyond the standard widespread model, with diversified instruments detailed herein. First, a brief presentation of the Life History method in qualitative research is necessary, as it is a promising field of application.