Discourse Analysis: Investigating Processes of Social Construction

by Nelson Phillips, Cynthia Hardy

Overview

Discourse Analysis: Investigating Processes of Social Construction is the first book to provide a concise, straightforward guide for students and researchers who are interested in understanding and using discourse analysis. The authors reflect on the practice of analyzing discourse and the potential for revealing the processes of social construction that constitute social and organizational life. Addressed to graduate students, academics, and experienced researchers, this book is a comprehensive guide for those new to discourse analysis as well as for researchers in need of a complement to other modes of inquiry.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761923626
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	06/12/2002
Series:	Qualitative Research Methods , #50
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	104
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

Research Interests

Organization discourse theory
Power and politics in organizations
Social construction of Identity
Organizational change

Table of Contents

Preface
1. What is Discourse Analysis?
Defining Discourse Analysis
Reasons for Using Discourse Analysis
What Lies Ahead
2. The Variety of Discourse Analysis
Theoretical Perspectives in Dscourse Analysis
Empirical Studies in Discourse Analysis
A Useful Methodology
3. Our Research Program
Studying Identity
Revitalizing Our Critical Approach
A New Perspective on Exsisting Theoretical Debates
Why We Use Discourse Analysis
4. The Challenges of Discourse Analysis
Developing a Research Question
Selecting a Site
Collecting Data
Analyzing the Data
Writing Up the Study
Make It Interesting
5. Conclusions
Contributions
Challenges
On a Personal Note
References
About the Authors

Editorial Reviews

Management scholars Phillips (U. of Cambridge) and Hardy (U. of Melbourne) address doctoral students embarking on discourse analysis, practicing researchers who want to use it to complement other modes of inquiry, veteran discourse analysts who want to find out what their colleagues are up to, and academics who never intend to use it but want to know what it is. They do not offer them an index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

The authors have successfully achieved their intent: to produce a short, readable guide to discourse analysis. The book is suitable for doctoral students, academics and researchers wishing to understand the basics of discourse analysis. As a doctoral student, I found it a helpful overview of the current debates and practices surrounding this potentially daunting methodology.

The book is the 50th volume in the Sage Series on Qualitative Research Methods. It is a short guide on the theoretical background, empirical use and practical application of discourse theory. At only 97 pages including bibliography, it is an accessible, yet content-rich overview of discourse theory. As I am new to discourse analysis, I found chapters one (a definition and rationale for discourse analysis), two ( the theory and practical examples of discourse analysis) and four (how to conduct research using discourse analysis) the most useful. These chapters provide clear and practical information on why and how to use discourse theory in research. Chapters three is a reflection by the authors on their use of discourse theory in various project. It is useful in understanding the range of research questions and organizations that can be studied using this technique. Chapter 5, the conclusion, has a useful table describing how reflexivity should be applied in discourse analysis and points the way for new directions in using discourse analysis.

The strengths of the book include an extensive bibliography, helpful for those readers in search of disciplines and projects which use discourse analysis: for example, psychology, political science, business and management and environment studies.

The weakness is that the authors argue that discourse analysis contributes to the plurality of research methods; however, it is hard to see how the requirement for a social constructivist philosophy would fit alongside a positivist philosophy, in a quantitative analysis, for example, in a mixed methods study.

In summary, this book is an essential starting point for anyone considering using this technique, which is well established in the UK, although less so in the USA. The authors must be applauded on this interesting and elegant introduction to a powerful technique.

Inspection Copy request email - Udeni Salmon