Reasoned Interpretations
“Reasoned Interpretations,” Chapter 9 of A New Narrative for Psychology, examines the bases for making sound research arguments in psychology. It argues that there is a general form for making arguments that is found not only in psychology but everywhere. Psychological science becomes the deliberate activity of “going after” knowledge and framing knowledge claims in the form of a reasonable argument. The chapter argues for a critical examination of research arguments in order to arrive at general, but flexible, means for evaluating research claims. Research arguments in psychology, narrative and otherwise, should be credible, trustworthy, and useful. In order to examine how narrative research can meet these standards, the chapter presents a detailed analysis of a life story interview with a Palestinian student with Israeli citizenship studying at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.