Topic 6: Discourse Analysis (QM)

Question 1

What are the foundation principles of discourse analysis

Answer 1

o Language is so central to all social activities
o Study of language is vital because
- most basic and pervasive form of interaction between people
- we spend much of our social lives talking to each other

A person’s account will VARY according to its function according to the PURPOSE of the talk

This method considers…
- how people talk and in text
- formulate personal subjectivity (mental states, dispositions etc.)

Question 2

What are the origins of discourse analysis?

Answer 2

Discursive psychology focuses on the everyday management of relations between mental states and an external world
–>1987 book ‘Discourse and Social Psychology’
–> This pioneered qualitative discourse research in psychology
–> Re-conceptualised the topic of social psychology and outlined this as an alternative methodological approach

Question 3

What are the three observations of discourse analysis

Answer 3

1. Discourse is both constructed and constructive
2. Discourse is ACTION-ORIENTATED
3. Discourse is SITUATED - words are understood according to what precedes and follows them

Question 4

Observation: Explain how ‘Discourse is both constructed and constructive’

Answer 4

Constructed - made up of linguistic building blocks (words, categories, repertoires), used to present particular versions of the world

Constructive - that these versions of the world are a product of the talk itself - not something that exists prior to the talk

Question 5

Observation: Explain how ‘Discourse is action-orientated’

Answer 5

We cannot separate talk and action
–> to seperate is to set up a false dichotomy and to overlook the ways in which talk achieves things in itself

Question 6

Observation: Explain how ‘Discourse is situated’

Answer 6

To understand discourse fully - you must examine it IN SITU, as it happens, bound up within its situational context

Question 7

What is the ethos/epistemological stance of Discourse Analysis

Answer 7

Common sense psychological concepts play a big role in everyday life
–> Being the terms in which people understand and account for their actions, thoughts, and feelings
–> What matters is the terms people actually use

Question 8

What does DA say about conventions/omissions in language?

Answer 8

Discourse analysis does NOT suggest that these conventions or omissions are deliberate or intentional
–> How you react happens as the talk is happening: you haven’t premeditated what you’re going to say
–> It’s often a question of why (what are they doing, trying to construct one day v another)

Question 9

How is discourse analysis performed (briefly?)

Answer 9

Speech and actions are recorded, both of which are coded for later analysis (usually using the Jefferson method of transcription)

Question 10

Why is discourse analysis interested in naturalistic talk?

Answer 10

1. Avoids imposing the researchers’ on categories or assumptions onto the data
2. It situates research within the seemingly “messy” settings of everyday life; people are not separated from issues of social interactions
3. It provides a direct practical way of doing the research
4. Allows the research to be guided by issues that may have not been anticipated
5. Captures life as it happens in lots of detail

Question 11

What is the Jefferson Method (very brief understanding needed)

Answer 11

It is a full ‘script’ of the interview and the aim is to take a full written version of the interview
–> including missing words / stopping / spelling / pauses etc.
–> very time consuming