Themes Jim Ridgway

Structure On the Power of Stories On the Weakness of Stories World views on research Functions of theories Styles of research Implications for change What are interviews good for?

On the Power of Stories Marx on false consciousness –Understanding the functions of different stories –Choice of story has political overtones Heather Mendick - there are no innocent positions Yvette Solomon – deliberate moulding by others More stories make us less vulnerable

On the Weakness of Stories Socio-cultural influences – from Renata Sierpenska Very big national differences Poland <> England –Beliefs in essential differences –Political campaigns –Sexist images pervade textbooks BUT…

World Views Influence –The sorts of evidence you collect –The filters/antennae you apply –The analyses you conduct –How you validate accounts –Who you communicate with/write for

Functions of Theories Prediction Control Change Personal Enlightenment

What are interviews good for? What are interviews? Laura Black –Students storying themselves within the interview & in response to the interviewer Dances? – so we learn about dancing, not about stuff Windows? For psychoanalysis, socio-cultural stuff, discursive What vs why –What=descriptions and value judgements –Why why did you… Why is/are [famous female mathematicians…] How would we know?

PREMA Interviews Typical lessons, and uses of ICT Interest and enjoyment Girls and boys roles Actions of successful and unsuccessful teachers Actions of successful and unsuccessful students

Interviews (cont) Development of mathematical identity Choices available; actually made; reasons Influences: parents, siblings, teachers, friends Long term plans What makes you good at maths and [X]? Why do you work hard at maths and [X]?

Themes What are different theories doing? for theoreticians? for education? What are interviews good for?

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