Collecting and Using Autobiographical Memories in Rural Social Research: A Step-by-Step Guide |
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Authors: | Chrysanthi Charatsari |
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Institution: | Department of Agricultural Economics, School of Agriculture , Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Thessaloniki , Greece |
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Abstract: | Human autobiographical memory, containing information on the self and its sociocultural surroundings, is a unique reservoir of knowledge, valuable in rural social research as well as in several other fields of study. However, the use of autobiographical memories as a source of retrospective information in (rural) social research remains largely underappreciated. This article introduces a five-step guide for designing and implementing research based on individuals’ cued autobiographical memories. The article also briefly outlines some major phenomena associated with human autobiographical memory (reminiscence bump, mood-incongruency, overgeneral memory, telescoping effect) and explains how they can affect a study based on participants’ autobiographical memories. |
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Keywords: | autobiographical memories qualitative research research methods retrospective information rural social research word cues |
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