Analyzing Text and Discourse
Eight Approaches for the Social Sciences
- Kristina Boréus - Uppsala University, Sweden
- Göran Bergström - Stockholm University, Sweden
Communication Research Methods | Discourse Analysis | Sociological Research Methods
A unique anthology of textual analysis methodologies, this book offers a thorough introduction to the key approaches and the tools students need to implement them.
Every chapter contains not just the theory behind each methodology, but also its advantages and disadvantages, its problems with ontology and language, and its relationship to studying social phenomenon. Through contemporary and relatable real-world worked examples, the book illustrates different contexts in which a methodology has been successfully used and allows students to see the methods in action and extrapolate the techniques into their own research.
Methods included:
- Content analysis
- Argumentation analysis
- Qualitative analysis of ideas
- Narrative analysis
- Metaphor analysis
- Multimodal discourse analysis
- Discourse analysis
Engaging and authoritative in equal measure, this guide to textual analysis is the perfect foundation for students conducting research in the social sciences.
Supplements
This book is an essential resource for students and researchers who need to work with texts: social scientists will appreciate the detailed guide to analytical approaches and traditions that could be used to explore social issues, while readers interested in language and discourse will develop a clear understanding of how to expose the formative and constitutive role language plays in our social reality.
This is a book for people who want to think seriously about text analysis before they start doing it. With a broad focus spanning all aspects of this important topic, it shows you what to do and what not to do—and why.
Not suitable for my course - too advanced
I added this book in the reading list because it is a supporting book for the graduate students who would like to analyze documents and discourses in their dissertations.
The book is great for researchers but our students found it hard to read
By synthesizing the elements necessary for interpretation of the discourse, the book "Analyzing text and discourse" is a scientific event that brings important clarifications in the universe of discursive communication.
This very helpful text will encourage students to develop more imaginative ways of analysing text and discourse.
The great advantage of this book is that is presents all relevant and useful types of analyses of text and discourse at once. Well-organized in separat chapters, students quickly get a very good overview of what they could use for their own proper research project. Very good are the info-boxes supporting students with further readings, exercises for self-learning, and so on. For my marketing-focused lecture, this book is a wonderful additional reading that has to be on the reading list. However, as I'm covering a broad range of methods related to marketing, it's not an essential book for this specific course. Essential books are focusing more on marketing, communication in marketing, and specific research-tasks in marketing.
Appropriate consideration is given to key concepts and terminology. There is a continuity in the development of concepts to facilitate a smooth transition between different sections.
