Позитивные изменения. Том 3, № 4 (2023). Positive changes. Volume 3, Issue 4(2023)

During the assessment process, it is also crucial for data collection to be as comfortable and trust-building as possible — ideally resembling a heartfelt conversation. One effective tool for achieving this is the story circle — a group gathering where participants openly share their personal narratives with one another.

STORYMINING: MINING VALUABLE STORIES

From a technical standpoint, a meeting following the “story circle” model is quite simple: participants sit down in a circle, facing one another, and then take turns sharing their stories. However, organizing and conducting such a gathering involves several key steps:[123]

1. Define your framework:

Before convening the circle, it is essential to define your framework — who you are bringing together, why you are assembling these individuals and invite them to share their stories. Depending on your goals, the circle can include current project beneficiaries, the project team, or future beneficiaries to gain insights into their opinions and needs, among other aspects. Do not limit yourself to the stories of direct beneficiaries. Consider the possibility of involving other participants, such as their relatives and others who may also have significant stories to share about the project.

When inviting participants, communicate the purpose clearly. For example: “We are inviting you to a small gathering where you and other project participants can listen to each other and share your experiences gained during the project.”

2. Find a “third place,” or create one

If you are planning to conduct the story circle in person, it is essential to identify a location that fosters openness and does not resemble the office of the project organization or the venue where typical project activities had taken place. This location could be an outdoor setting like a lawn in the park, a cozy lounge designed for casual gatherings, or even just a regular meeting room. The key is to arrange seating in a way that encourages face-to-face interaction and active participation.

If a personal story circle gathering is out of the question, you can hold an online meeting instead, using any remote meeting application such as Zoom, Google Meet, etc.

3. Divide the participants into smaller groups

It is best to have participants work in small groups of four to five people, as this makes it easier to listen to everyone’s stories and ensures that nothing is overlooked. Make sure each small group is as diverse as possible, choosing its participants at random.

To motivate storytelling, prepare some guiding questions in advance to help them recall key events. You can write down two or three questions on a flipchart if the meeting is conducted in person, or display them on a presentation slide in case of a virtual meeting.

Then, provide a brief instruction to the participants: “I am going to show you a set of guiding questions. Take your time to read them carefully, and use any question to recollect a specific event. Remember, it doesn’t have to be a grand event — perhaps a small moment that still holds a significant meaning to you.” 4. Start the story circle.

Ask the participants if everyone was able to recall a specific event. If anyone shakes their head, reassure them that stories often emerge in response to another person’s narrative. Once the sharing begins, their own story will likely come to mind. Next, present a brief set of instructions for sharing stories. It might look as follows:

• The first storyteller in the group shares a memory. Other participants listen attentively, each story being allotted five minutes.

• The listeners then provide feedback on the story. You can find suggestions for this in a later section of this article, titled “Collective Harvesting.”

• The storyteller reflects on what resonated most with them from the feedback received.

• Proceed to the next storyteller and continue the exchange of stories.

Later on, we will explore how stories you heard can be transformed into valuable data.

GUIDING QUESTIONS FOR UNCOVERING STORIES