Discourse analysis
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The role of language is increasingly important for social researchers. This course reviews the varied traditions around meaning-making, including socio-linguistics, conversation analysis, critical discourse analysis, discursive psychology and genealogical research. You’ll learn methods of discourse analysis and how to work with various kinds of research data, including official documents, conversations and interviews. You’ll also debate the ideas of key thinkers such as Wittgenstein, Austin, Sacks, Saussure and Foucault, and discuss the tensions between schools of thought.
This course cannot be studied on a stand-alone basis and the social science qualifications to which it counts are in the process of being withdrawn. It is not available to new students.
Course facts
A postgraduate course.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | D843 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | Postgraduate |
| SCQF level | 11 |
| FHEQ level | 7 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| Examination |
| No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.
What you will study
Increasingly in the social sciences there has been a ‘turn to discourse’, a new interest in the role played by language in social life and a new emphasis on meaning making, along with the development of theories and methods to capture and study the symbolic and semiotic aspects of human activities. The main aim of this course is to review those developments and to teach methods of discourse analysis. It takes a guided study approach; you will be reading material from a variety of leading authors in the field, with the aid of a specially prepared study guide. The course takes you through classic and current readings on discourse research and introduces different approaches to it. You will learn how to work with various kinds of research data, including official documents, conversations, and interviews.
The materials are organised around three main areas of discourse research: the study of social interaction; minds, selves and sense making; culture and social relations. A study guide helps you to plan your study of these areas and to choose assignments that build on your educational background and reflect your likely future interests in discourse research. The course is designed for you to learn more about qualitative research methods relevant to academic areas such as psychology, sociology, cultural studies and social policy, and to become acquainted with developments in the important new field of discourse studies. One of the tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) is a research proposal which may well be a preparation for your own independent research in other postgraduate courses, or towards a PhD.
Vocational relevance
The analysis of qualitative data, texts and interview material is a key research skill and a crucial part of training in research methods for the social sciences and other academic disciplines. It is a central part of the curriculum in psychological research methods degrees, and is required by professional and funding bodies such as the British Psychological Society and the Economic and Social Research Council. The use of discourse analysis is growing in other contexts such as market research, media analysis, communication training, advertising, policy research and public relations.
Entry
The minimum entry requirement is a recognised UK honours degree or its equivalent.
Although the honours degree can be in any subject, you are unlikely to be prepared for this module if you have not had a prior academic grounding in the social sciences or psychology. This is because your postgraduate studies will assume you are familiar with social scientific or psychological language and concepts, and the characteristic ways in which social scientists and psychologists construct arguments, use theory and handle evidence.
Before you start your postgraduate studies it is expected that you will have the ability to:
- write accurately, clearly and concisely
- read large quantities of text quickly, accurately and critically
- classify evidence precisely, and assess its value and reliability
- argue logically, consistently and sceptically
- marshal evidence to support a logical argument.
All our postgraduate modules are taught in English, so your spoken and written English must be of an appropriate standard for postgraduate study. If you’re not sure whether your English skills are good enough, there is some help and guidance on our website.
Before taking this course, it is expected that you will have already studied the postgraduate foundation course for the qualification you are studying towards, one of D821, D822 or D820 (all now discontinued). Please refer to the relevant qualification description.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, or whether your subject knowledge and study skills are adequate for study at this level, please contact the Learner Support Team, Postgraduate Studies in Social Sciences (telephone +44 (0)113 234 1225, or email).
Preparatory work
If you would like to undertake some preparatory reading we suggest:
S. Hall ‘The Work of Representation’ in S. Hall (ed.) (1997) Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices, Sage
I. Hutchby, R. Wooffitt (1998) Conversation Analysis, Polity Press
J. Potter, M. Wetherell (1987) Discourse and Social Psychology, Sage
Qualifications
If you are planning on studying towards any of these qualifications, please carefully check the descriptions of the qualifications you are considering to ensure that you have sufficient time to complete your studies, as our psychology and social sciences qualifications are now only available for a limited time.
D843 is an optional module in our:
- Postgraduate Certificate in Social Sciences (C24)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Forensic Psychological Studies (E34)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Research Methods (E11)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Social Research Methods (E12)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Management and Business Research Methods (E26)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Social Sciences (D41)
- MA in Social Policy and Criminology (F18)
- MA in Social Sciences (F09)
- MSc in Forensic Psychology and Criminology (F49)
- MSc in Management and Business Research Methods (F34)
- MSc in Psychological Research Methods (F20)
- MSc in Psychology (F15)
- MSc in Research Methods for Educational Technology (F22)
- MSc in Science (F12)
- MSc in Social Research Methods (F24)
- MSc in Technology Strategy Research (F23)
Some postgraduate qualifications allow study to be chosen from other subject areas. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this module can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
Excluded combinations
Sometimes you will not be able to count a module towards a qualification if you have already taken another module with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this module, visit our excluded combination finder or check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Much discourse analysis requires intensive work on textual transcripts that include transcription symbols. Activities and assessments will be carefully designed and we will try to provide alternatives where possible.
If you are a new student, or new to study using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.
You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
Course books, other printed materials.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. Your tutor may not be local, so contact will probably be by correspondence, email or telephone. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details can be found in the facts box above.
You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the final course start date in May 2012.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
Course facts
A postgraduate course.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | D843 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | Postgraduate |
| SCQF level | 11 |
| FHEQ level | 7 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| Examination |
| No residential school |
Study explained
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- Credits
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- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
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