Storytelling as a way for humanizing research methods

Abstract

This article examines how the use of storytelling can serve as a pedagogical strategy in the teaching of research methods. Research methods and statistics anxiety is fairly widespread among students in higher education. Introducing storytelling has been found to decrease this anxiety. The term “humanizing research methods” implies a focus on students’ needs that goes beyond transferring knowledge of the content of the curriculum. Storytelling is an approach for creating a safe-learning environment where the students may even be able to enjoy research methods. The case, and examples of stories, refer to a compulsory course for executive students at the Norwegian Business School.