Contextualising sociologists' claims of change in food and family Studying Lifestyles: Resources Past, Present and Future British Library, 9 March 2009

Families remembering food project PI: Graham Smith and Peter Jackson PI: Graham Smith and Peter Jackson RA: Sarah Olive RA: Sarah Olive Aim Aim To contextualise sociologists' claims of change in the recent history of food and family: Reusing oral histories from Qualidata and the BL Sound Archive To contextualise sociologists' claims of change in the recent history of food and family: Reusing oral histories from Qualidata and the BL Sound Archive

Part of Changing Families, Changing Food multi-disciplinary research programme

Data sets we looked at (1) Paul Thompsons Family Life and Work Experience Before 1918 ( The Edwardians) Paul Thompsons Family Life and Work Experience Before 1918 ( The Edwardians) 444 life-story interviews 444 life-story interviews Interviews up to six hours long Interviews up to six hours long Collected across Britain, Collected across Britain, See Barker and Corti (2002) pdf See Barker and Corti (2002) pdf pdf pdf ns/introduction.asp ns/introduction.asp ns/introduction.asp ns/introduction.asp Recordings: British Library Sound Archive C707/ Recordings: British Library Sound Archive C707/

Data sets we looked at (2) Paul Thompsons Families, Social Mobility and Ageing: a multi-generational approach (100 Families) Paul Thompsons Families, Social Mobility and Ageing: a multi-generational approach (100 Families) 00fams/introduction.asp 00fams/introduction.asp 00fams/introduction.asp 00fams/introduction.asp Approx 240 interviews Approx 240 interviews Collected across Britain, Collected across Britain, Recordings British Library Sound Archive C685/ Recordings British Library Sound Archive C685/01-198

Selection procedures 100 families We familiarized ourselves by listening to sample of the Scottish interviews: each selecting themes/interests We familiarized ourselves by listening to sample of the Scottish interviews: each selecting themes/interests We then selected 32 English respondents in 12 different localities recalling family life from , through food narratives We then selected 32 English respondents in 12 different localities recalling family life from , through food narratives Geographic spread (rural/city/semi-rural) Geographic spread (rural/city/semi-rural) Range across social class Range across social class Noted lack of non-white British and non-British Noted lack of non-white British and non-British This sample included three intergenerational case study pairs: mother & son; mother & daughter; and father & daughter This sample included three intergenerational case study pairs: mother & son; mother & daughter; and father & daughter

Selection procedures Edwardians Sarah read 120 interview transcripts (including field notes of 444 interviews) Sarah read 120 interview transcripts (including field notes of 444 interviews) Then sub-sampled (n30) along the same lines of 100 families made detailed notes and listened to recordings Then sub-sampled (n30) along the same lines of 100 families made detailed notes and listened to recordings We then individually (independently) analysed 10 of the 30 interviews and discussed We then individually (independently) analysed 10 of the 30 interviews and discussed Then we studied 3 interviews in greater depth Then we studied 3 interviews in greater depth 3 interviewees, living and working in the textile industry in the North Yorkshire region in the early 1900s (upper/middle/working class) 3 interviewees, living and working in the textile industry in the North Yorkshire region in the early 1900s (upper/middle/working class)

Opportunities Bring new questions to existing oral history data sets Bring new questions to existing oral history data sets Large and increasing number of available data sets Large and increasing number of available data sets Increasing understanding of how we can re-use qualitative data more generally Increasing understanding of how we can re-use qualitative data more generally

Challenges Advocates of reuse (e.g. Corti et al. 2005; Fielding and Fielding 2000; Savage, 2005) Advocates of reuse (e.g. Corti et al. 2005; Fielding and Fielding 2000; Savage, 2005) Contextualisation: epistemological issues (Mauthner et al. 1998) and of doing reflexive research (Mauthner and Doucet, 2003) Contextualisation: epistemological issues (Mauthner et al. 1998) and of doing reflexive research (Mauthner and Doucet, 2003) Context is critical (Bishop, 2005) and/or need to recontextualise data (Bishop 2006; Moore 2007) but problems overblown Context is critical (Bishop, 2005) and/or need to recontextualise data (Bishop 2006; Moore 2007) but problems overblown Original context of collection Original context of collection Current context of reuse Current context of reuse

Sifting and sorting What is the place of food in peoples memories of family life? What is the place of food in peoples memories of family life? How have social constructions of the family and memories of family life changed over time? How have social constructions of the family and memories of family life changed over time? How do gender, ethnicity and social class impact on the different inter-connections between family and food? How do gender, ethnicity and social class impact on the different inter-connections between family and food? What methodological considerations do researchers face when reusing oral history archives? What methodological considerations do researchers face when reusing oral history archives?

Analysis 100 Familes (Food and Family) Shift in meaning of key terms: Shift in meaning of key terms: E.g. choice and convenience (even lifestyle) E.g. choice and convenience (even lifestyle) Lack of brand awareness in 100 families dataLack of brand awareness in 100 families data Past(s) seen through the lens of the present(s) Past(s) seen through the lens of the present(s) Answers shaped by life story being told (trajectory) Answers shaped by life story being told (trajectory) Complex interplay between interviewer, interviewee and future researchers Complex interplay between interviewer, interviewee and future researchers

Conclusions on method Opportunities to extend Masons (2007) call to extend investigative epistemology Opportunities to extend Masons (2007) call to extend investigative epistemology The dialogical nature of reusing qualitative data The dialogical nature of reusing qualitative data Interplay of temporalities Interplay of temporalities Reflexive nature of interviews (especially 100 Families compared to The Edwardians Reflexive nature of interviews (especially 100 Families compared to The Edwardians Dialogic of memoryDialogic of memory Tinned food in Scotland = 1980s food poisoning = 1964 outbreak Tinned food in Scotland = 1980s food poisoning = 1964 outbreak

Findings on family food practices The recent demise of the family meal is overstated The recent demise of the family meal is overstated The continuity of the family meal as an important, iconic, symbol of doing/performing family The continuity of the family meal as an important, iconic, symbol of doing/performing family Family practices have been and are located in accepting or rejecting family and community biographies and trajectories Family practices have been and are located in accepting or rejecting family and community biographies and trajectories Food has often been construed as a medium of emotional involvement within families (and continues to be so). More than taste? Food has often been construed as a medium of emotional involvement within families (and continues to be so). More than taste?

Some References Bishop, L. (2005) Beyond the Dualism of Primary vs. Secondary Qualitative Data Analysis: a case study. Reusing Qualitative Data workshop, CRESC, Manchester. Bishop, L. (2006) Oot o the Groun and Intae a Pot: convenience food and choice in the 20th century. Unpublished paper, ESDS Qualidata, University of Essex. Bishop, L. (2007) A Reflexive Account of Reusing Qualitative Data: beyond primary/secondary dualism. Sociological Research Online 12, 3http:// Corti, L., Witzel, A. and Bishop, L. (2005) On the Potentials and Problems of Secondary Analysis: an introduction to the FQS Special Issue on Secondary Analysis of Qualitative Data. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung (on-line journal, available at: Fielding, N. and Fielding, J. (2000) Resistance and Adaptation to Criminal Identity: using secondary analysis to evaluate classic studies of crime and deviance, Sociology 34: Mauthner, N.S. and Doucet, A. (2003) Reflexive Accounts and Accounts of Reflexivity in Qualitative Data Analysis, Sociology 37: Mauthner, N.S., Parry, O. and Backett-Milburn, K. (1998) The Data Are Out There, or Are They? Implications for archiving and revisiting qualitative data, Sociology 32: Moore, N. (2007) (Re)Using Qualitative Data? Sociological Research Online 12, 3 (

Contact details Dr Graham Smith Department of Health and Social Care (to Sept 2009) Department of History (after Sept 2009) Royal Holloway University of London Surrey, England TW20 0EX