Qualitative Data Analysis: An Qualitative Data Analysis: An introductionintroduction

Carol GrbichCarol Grbich

Chapter 18:Chapter 18:

Conversation analysisConversation analysis

Conversation analysisConversation analysisKey pointsKey points Transcriptions of naturally occurring conversations form the Transcriptions of naturally occurring conversations form the

substance of the data in conversational analysissubstance of the data in conversational analysis

Identification and discussion of the ‘devices’ used by Identification and discussion of the ‘devices’ used by participants in the communication process provides the major participants in the communication process provides the major focusfocus

Structures and social systems are reflected in interactive Structures and social systems are reflected in interactive behavioursbehaviours

Analytical approaches include:Analytical approaches include:seeking the mundane in everyday conversationsseeking the mundane in everyday conversations ..reading the language of environmental settingsreading the language of environmental settingsunderstanding chat room conversationunderstanding chat room conversation

Conversation analysisConversation analysis

When to useWhen to use: : when you have access to naturally occurring when you have access to naturally occurring conversations which can be transcribedconversations which can be transcribed

Type of research questionType of research question: : How do people interact through How do people interact through the medium of conversations within particular environments?the medium of conversations within particular environments?

StrengthsStrengths: clarifies the dynamics of interaction by looking at : clarifies the dynamics of interaction by looking at the minutiae of turn takingthe minutiae of turn taking

Weaknesses:Weaknesses: when we only have access to transcriptions of when we only have access to transcriptions of spoken dialogue the revealing facial expressions and non-spoken dialogue the revealing facial expressions and non-verbal communications are missing.verbal communications are missing.

The purpose of conversation analysisThe purpose of conversation analysis

The objective of CA is the description of the The objective of CA is the description of the procedures by which conversationalists procedures by which conversationalists produce their own behaviour and produce their own behaviour and understand and deal with the behaviour of understand and deal with the behaviour of others.others.

The central goal of CA is the description and The central goal of CA is the description and explication of the procedures that ordinary explication of the procedures that ordinary speakers use and rely on in participating in speakers use and rely on in participating in intelligible, socially organized interaction.intelligible, socially organized interaction.

Analysis and data presentationAnalysis and data presentation

A conversation is defined as at least two turns i.e. 2 people interacting A conversation is defined as at least two turns i.e. 2 people interacting verbally). verbally).

The socio-cultural content and context of conversation or interactive The socio-cultural content and context of conversation or interactive talk in the construction of meaning making can be explored through a talk in the construction of meaning making can be explored through a detailed inspection of tape recordings and their transcriptions.detailed inspection of tape recordings and their transcriptions.

Analysis focuses on conversation sets, visuals, non verbal interaction Analysis focuses on conversation sets, visuals, non verbal interaction and environmental and social structures that impact on everyday and environmental and social structures that impact on everyday behaviour as well as individual conversations .behaviour as well as individual conversations .

Most practitioners of CA tend to refrain, in their research reports, from Most practitioners of CA tend to refrain, in their research reports, from extensive theoretical and methodological discussion but this varies extensive theoretical and methodological discussion but this varies from discipline to discipline. A CA report will comprise a detailed from discipline to discipline. A CA report will comprise a detailed discussion of transcriptions of recordings of (mostly verbal) discussion of transcriptions of recordings of (mostly verbal) interaction in terms of the 'devices' used byinteraction in terms of the 'devices' used by participants.participants.

Speech actsSpeech acts..

:: AssertionsAssertions; these are statements which state, describe, predict, announce or speculate. ; these are statements which state, describe, predict, announce or speculate.

For example: For example: ‘‘It is cold today’;It is cold today’; ‘ ‘I wonder what the weather will be like tomorrow?’,I wonder what the weather will be like tomorrow?’, ‘ ‘I think it will be fine.’ I think it will be fine.’ ‘ ‘There are long flakes of snow catching on the leaves and sliding to the There are long flakes of snow catching on the leaves and sliding to the

ground’. ground’. DeclarationDeclaration; A stronger form of assertion ; ; A stronger form of assertion ;

‘ ‘I pronounce you man and wife’ I pronounce you man and wife’ ‘‘You’re hired/fired/redundant.’ You’re hired/fired/redundant.’

‘ ‘I sentence you to 10 years of imprisonment’.I sentence you to 10 years of imprisonment’. Directives:Directives: These attempt to produce some form of action/response in another These attempt to produce some form of action/response in another

person, through requests, commands, questions, suggestions and orders. E.g..:person, through requests, commands, questions, suggestions and orders. E.g..: ‘ ‘Do this.’Do this.’ ‘ ‘Tell me what happened’, Tell me what happened’, ‘ ‘Would you like to come with me?’ Would you like to come with me?’ “ “Why did you do that?”Why did you do that?”

Commissives Commissives involve the elicitation of guarantees and vows of the order of; involve the elicitation of guarantees and vows of the order of;

‘Promise not to tell anyone else’.‘Promise not to tell anyone else’.

Speech Acts 2Speech Acts 2 Expressive statements; Expressive statements; here the speaker’s feelings are shared through apologies, here the speaker’s feelings are shared through apologies,

thanks, greetings, acknowledgements and compliments. For example;thanks, greetings, acknowledgements and compliments. For example; ‘ ‘I’m really sorry about that’,I’m really sorry about that’, “ “I think that definitely suits you’ I think that definitely suits you’

““Thank you so much for…’.Thank you so much for…’. Sequential features – turn taking Sequential features – turn taking oror adjacency pairs adjacency pairs which are expected paired which are expected paired

interactions of matching responses such as:interactions of matching responses such as: ‘‘Congratulations!’ and ‘Thank you very much’Congratulations!’ and ‘Thank you very much’ ‘‘Promise not to tell anyone’ and ‘I promise’, Promise not to tell anyone’ and ‘I promise’,

“ “I wish to complain about…’ and ‘I’m very sorry about…’ I wish to complain about…’ and ‘I’m very sorry about…’ “ “How are you?’ and ‘I am well, thank you” How are you?’ and ‘I am well, thank you” ‘ ‘Are you responsible for this?’ and ‘No I had nothing to do with that’. Are you responsible for this?’ and ‘No I had nothing to do with that’.

Pairs may also be question and answer type pairs such as ;Pairs may also be question and answer type pairs such as ; ‘ ‘Can I come round to visit you this evening?’ and ‘Yes/no’. Can I come round to visit you this evening?’ and ‘Yes/no’.

Some question answer pairs are more complex and contain conditional interactions Some question answer pairs are more complex and contain conditional interactions e.g. e.g.

‘‘Shall we go for a walk this evening?’ Shall we go for a walk this evening?’ ‘‘Do you think it will rain?Do you think it will rain?‘‘No’No’ ‘ ‘Then I’d love to,’ Then I’d love to,’

Researcher optionsResearcher options

examine situated activities with audio/video equipment examine situated activities with audio/video equipment seeking order and mundaneity in the constructed seeking order and mundaneity in the constructed interaction of everyday happenings.interaction of everyday happenings.

attempt to make sense of information/visuals which are attempt to make sense of information/visuals which are very different from those of the usual conversational very different from those of the usual conversational interactions such as reading the language of a coffee bar interactions such as reading the language of a coffee bar which converses with patrons both in terms of signs and which converses with patrons both in terms of signs and through the layout of tables and counter through the layout of tables and counter

put yourself in unusual situations where routine sense put yourself in unusual situations where routine sense making may not work, for example following non making may not work, for example following non sequential conversations recorded in chat roomssequential conversations recorded in chat rooms

A model of CA's research practicesA model of CA's research practicesSelect episodes to be analysedSelect episodes to be analysed Only ordinary conversation as it is naturally occurring Only ordinary conversation as it is naturally occurring should be included, no interviews nor staged scripts Record the material to be analysed.should be included, no interviews nor staged scripts Record the material to be analysed.

Transcribe recordingsTranscribe recordings. . The following information should be included for complete The following information should be included for complete analysis of the conversation:analysis of the conversation:

Time, date and place of the original recording Time, date and place of the original recording Participant information Participant information Words and sounds as utteredWords and sounds as utteredSpaces, silencesSpaces, silencesOverlapping speech and soundsOverlapping speech and soundsPace, stretches (::), stress(es) (underlining), volume (CAPS indicate increased Pace, stretches (::), stress(es) (underlining), volume (CAPS indicate increased

volume)volume)Visual informationVisual information

Check the episode carefully in terms of turn-takingCheck the episode carefully in terms of turn-taking: :

Look for sequencesLook for sequences

Try to make sense of the episodeTry to make sense of the episode Interpret the material in a comparative mannerInterpret the material in a comparative manner

((Adapted from tAdapted from ten Have 2007and en Have 2007and Wang ,2011Wang ,2011) )

Questions to facilitate analysisQuestions to facilitate analysis::Is the conversation: Is the conversation:

an amicable, a heated discussion, or an outright argument about an amicable, a heated discussion, or an outright argument about personal or political issues?personal or political issues?

Is it an equal exchange? or is one person leading? Is it an equal exchange? or is one person leading?

What happens when one person moves to a dominant questioning What happens when one person moves to a dominant questioning or declarative mode and how does this structure or impact on the or declarative mode and how does this structure or impact on the conversation? conversation?

Are any misunderstandings evident? Are any misunderstandings evident?

If there is any tension, how is it created? maintained? reflected in If there is any tension, how is it created? maintained? reflected in the structure of the conversation? the structure of the conversation?

What is your response as a reader to this conversationWhat is your response as a reader to this conversation? ?

3 types of conversational analysis3 types of conversational analysis

mundane conversationsmundane conversations

the ‘conversations; of public placesthe ‘conversations; of public places

internet chat roomsinternet chat rooms..