Conversation Analysis and Discourse Analysis
A Comparative and Critical Introduction
- Robin Wooffitt - University of York, UK
Research Methods in Communication
`This is an excellent book: clear, engaging and authoritative. It treads a path through the many confusions and provides a map of the fields of conversation analysis, discourse analysis, critical discourse analysis and discursive psychology which is better than any currently available. It will be a valuable resource in teaching' - Professor Jonathan Potter, Loughborough University
`An excellent exposition: concepts are explained and put into context, and the reader is guided from introductory to advanced levls of discussion. Wooffitt sets out and answers the kinds of questions typically raised by students and others about relations and differences between discourse and conversation analysis… engaging and useful' - Professor Derek Edwards, Loughborough University
This significant text by Robin Wooffitt is the first to systematically examine the complex relationship between conversation analysis and discourse analysis. It comes at a timely moment: despite the close connection between the two forms of analyses in academic research, no other existing text explains these links methodically, comprehensively and for the benefit of undergraduate and master's students.
Key features of this text:
- It takes students from first principles up to more advanced debates, and is therefore suitable for under grad and MA/PhD students.
- Careful illustration of methodological approaches through detailed analysis of data.
- Clarity of writing; lengthy chapter summaries; further readings; glossary of CA/DA terminology as an appendix.
Conversation Analysis and Discourse Analysis shows how the methods and findings of conversation and discourse analysis may inform the development of empirical research questions. It will therefore be an invaluable resource for social science students on courses which require them to undertake practical or empirical exercises.
This three-part book supposes no prior knowledge and is thus an excellent book to use with undergraduate students or those postgraduates who wish to develop their knowledge in another field. Its provision of useful background material and of exemplars in the final chapters, make it a really useful book for anyone interested in either CA or DA. As the work has such a wide scope, i would suggest that it would appeal to researchers and students in many disciplines."
This book is very clearly and well written and bridges the gap in the text-book literature between conversation analysis and discourse analysis from basic concepts and principles to more detailed processes. I had ordered this evaluation copy thinking that it may be suitable for final year students studying for their dissertation; it is, but is more suitable for PG students rather than UG, although high achieving UG students will also find it useful
Fantastic introduction to CA and DA
The book gives an excellent introduction to these important approaches to analysing social situations and qualitative and subjective data. The initial chapter in particular, does a good job of explaining the origins and purpose of the techniques in accessible languange. But the book is also punctuated with some very helpful, illustrative examples that serve to further reinforce the importance of these techniques and precisely why the more traditional, objective approaches to analysis are inadequate in these types of social situations.
The book will be of peripheral use only for our students since many will not be researching topics that require this type of analysis, but I will certainly include it in the book list and will point students to it in cases where their topics may warrant consideration of these approaches.
An excellent text that is an invaluable guide and reference book on Conversation and Discourse Analysis. I highly recommend.
Slightly beyond the level of the other course texts on CA and Discourse Analysis, this provides a nice critical overview of the topic area, suitable for the students who read beyond the basic reading list.
An excellent reference guide for tutors and learners alike.
This is a great guide to conversation and discourse analysis. I recommend it to dissertation students who are making decisions about their method and need an accessible but detailed introduction.
Recommended to first year MA Innovation Management students encountering Discourse Analysis/Theory for the first time. This book articulates well the relationship between theory/theories & practical methodologies/methods. The relationship between analysis, critique & synthesis is well handled, making this book recommended to PG students not only for its content, but as a good example of academic writing too.
I found this book a bot too detailed for our undergraduates, but use it as essential reading for dissertations and higher level students.
Sage College Publishing
