What is Discourse Analysis?

Description

What is Discourse Analysis? is an accessible introduction to an empirical research approach which is widely used in the social sciences and related disciplines. This book explores the idea of how meaning is socially constructed and how 'talk' and text can be interpreted. The challenges of discourse analysis are outlined as well as helpful ways to approach them - from finding the right starting point, processing and interpreting data through to building an argument. Discourse analysts work with language data, including talk, documents and broadcast material. Researchers in different traditions study interactions and social practices, meaning-making and larger meaning systems, and contests and conflicts around collective identities, social norms and subjectification. What is Discourse Analysis? addresses new researchers and other academics interested in language and its associated practices. The book outlines the history of discourse analysis, its key concepts and theorists and its uses and challenges. Discussions of published studies illustrate the use of the approach to investigate a range of research topics, such as gender, health and national identities. The book also addresses the practical aspects of discourse analysis, providing clear guidance on data collection and data processing, including transcription and selection. Covering important topics, What is Discourse Analysis? draws from recent articles to show how discourse analysis works in action. Common questions about discourse analysis are presented in a lively and accessible Q&A format. This book will be an essential resource for all researchers working with discourse analysis. Cover Half-title Series Title Copyright Contents Series foreword Acknowledgements 1 Introduction .What is discourse analysis? .The chapters Using this. book Summary . 2 Theories and common concerns .Introduction .Theorizing language as systems or aggregates of meanings .Theorizing language as social practice .Theorizing language as communication .Terminology .Knowledge, truth and power .Culture and identity .Discourse analysis in psychology .Conclusion .Summary 3 Four examples of discourse analysis .Discourses of health and illness .The construction of prejudice .Gender in talk .Leadership in an organization .Concluding comments .Summary 4 The usefulness of discourse analysis for social science researchers .Reasons to use discourse analysis .Different forms of data .Obtaining data .Summary 5 The challenges of discourse analysis .How do I decide the right approach to discourse analysis for my project? .How do I decide how much material to analyse? .How do I manage and ‘process’ my data? .How do I begin the analysis? .How do I develop an interpretation and argument? .What is the status of the findings? .Summary 6 Criticisms of discourse analysis .‘Discourse analysis is just about words’ .‘Discourse analysis doesn’t take enough account of people’ .‘Interviews are not an appropriate source of data’ .‘Discourse analysis just produces interpretations, not facts’ .‘Discourse research doesn’t have practical applications’ .‘Discourse analysis is out of date’ .Summary 7 Summary Further reading Glossary Bibliography Index