Discourse Analysis for Psychology (983C8)
Discourse Analysis for Psychology
Module 983C8
Module details for 2010/11.
5 credits
FHEQ Level 7 (Masters)
Module Outline
This course combines lectures and practicals on discourse analysis (DA) to give the advanced research student hands-on experience of carrying out this qualitative research method. DA is concerned with how people do things with language (e.g., avoid blame, disclaim negative attributions, construct the self and others)- or how language itself does things (e.g., positions people and things, reproduces power relations). At its most thoroughgoing, discourse analysis can be considered as a distinct epistemological framework, based on social constructionism, rather than just another tool in the methodological toolbox. The lectures (i) distinguish DA from mainstream psychology (ii) distinguish DA from other qualitative approaches (iii) introduce the varieties of and controversies within DA (iv) illustrate the approach with worked, published examples (v) offer a step-by-step approach to carrying out DA research. The workshops give practical experience and guidance on carrying out DA, through structured exercises and material provided by the tutor.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course the successful student should be able to:
1. Explain and apply the methodological steps of reading, coding and analysing textual material within an overall discourse analytic research project
2. Critically reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of discourse analysis as a research approach
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 100.00% | |
| Coursework components. Weighted as shown below. | ||
| Exercise | Summer Week 8 | 100.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
| Term | Method | Duration | Week pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Term | Lecture | 1 hour | 003000000000 |
| Summer Term | Workshop | 2 hours | 002000000000 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
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