It  is  known  that  life  stories  as  well  as  research  based  on  this  kind  of  texts  can   provide  university   students  with  a  deep  and  broad   theoretical  understanding.   In  the  present  study,  a  life  story  is  compared  with  the  research  literature  that   does   not   use   this   type   of   texts   as   a   method   in   education   and   research.   The   purpose   is   to   discuss   the   possibilities   and   limitations   in   the   choice   of   special   education  course  literature.  The  problem  investigated  and  discussed  is  how  to   describe  similarities  and  differences  between  a  life  story  and  research  based  on   other   methods.   urthermore,   the   life   story   is   reviewed   for   its   possibilities   to   exemplify,  deepen  and  clarify  research  results  presented  in  literature  where  life   stories  have  not  been  used.  The  life  story  that  is  analy+ed  in  this  study  involves   a  father’s  perception  and  experience  of  being  a  parent  of  a  child  with  a  devel-­‐ opmental  disorder.  The   results  of   the   study   show   that  an  instructional  design   such  as   this,  should  create  good  conditions   for  giving   the  student  general  and   specific  knowledge  in  the  fields  where  the  life  story  is  applied.  The  combination   of   two   knowledge-­‐seeking   methods   can complement   each   other   and,   in   this   way,   provide   deeper   understanding   for   the   practicum   that   the   students   will   undertake  later.