Critical Discourse Analysis - European University Institute

Critical Discourse Analysis - European University Institute

Qualitative Research Methods: Critical Discourse Analysis
Workshop, 3rd term 2015-2016
2-3 May 2016
Seminar room 2, Badia Fiesolana
Organised by Pepper Culpepper, with Theresa Gessler, Nodira Kholmatova and Ion Pagoaga Ibiricu
Guest speaker: Ruth Wodak, Lancaster University
Please register online
Contact: [email protected]
This workshop is organised on qualitative research methods with a focus on critical discourse analysis. It is
oriented to introduce the participants with critical discourse analysis approach and engage them into the
discussion of how to incorporate CDA in research design and connect the observations with theory.
Research Design with Qualitative Methods
The workshop focuses on key questions which researchers face in the research design stage, for example
which types of questions are better addressed by which qualitative tools.
In this line, here are some main questions which we would like to discuss.
 Which questions can be addressed through qualitative research? (e.g. the role of causality vs.
hermeneutics)
 What are the key tools for analysis?
 How to integrate discourse analysis approach into mixed methods?
 Different assumptions about the data in thematic analysis & discourse analysis.
 How to consider which are the units of analysis within discourse analysis approach?
 How to plan a flexible research design, equipped for change along the way?
Application of the Critical Discourse Analysis
The second block of the workshop addresses data analysis techniques through the example of application
of Critical Discourse Studies / Discourse Historical Approach.
Connecting theory and observations
How can we bring theory and empirical analysis together in a convincing way? How do we look beyond
what is said to make power structures and underlying assumptions evident? What is the specific
contribution of critical discourse analysis to this? What is “critical” about our research? The discussion can
focus on critical discourse analysis and the application of this approach across different fields of research.
In order to obtain credits, a practical exercise or assignment has to be completed during the workshop.
Last updated 01.04.2016
Readings
Wodak, Ruth. 2015. The Politics of Fear: What Right-Wing Populist Discourses Mean. 1st edition.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. (Chapters 1, 3, 6)
Wodak, Ruth, and Michael Meyer. 2015. Methods of Critical Discourse Studies. 3rd edition. Thousand
Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. (Chapters by Wodak & Meyer, Reisigl & Wodak, KhosraviNik & Unger)
Additionally:
Angouri, J., and R. Wodak. 2014. “‘They Became Big in the Shadow of the Crisis’: The Greek
Success Story and the Rise of the Far Right.” Discourse & Society 25 (4): 540–65.
Dijk, Teun A. van. 1992. “Discourse and the Denial of Racism.” Discourse & Society 3 (1): 87–
118.
Ekström, Mats. 2009. “Power and Affiliation in Presidential Press Conferences: A Study on
Interruptions, Jokes and Laughter.” Journal of Language and Politics 8 (3): 386–415.
Kienpointner, Manfred. 2009. “Plausible and Fallacious Strategies to Silence One’s Opponent.” In
Argumentation in Context, edited by Frans H. vanEemeren, 1:61–75. Amsterdam: John Benjamins
Publishing Company.
Krzyżanowski, Michał, and Ruth Wodak. 2011. “Political Strategies and Language Policies: The
European Union Lisbon Strategy and Its Implications for the EU’s Language and Multilingualism
Policy.” Language Policy 10 (2): 115–36.
Street, John. 2010. “The Changing Character of Political Communications.” In The Cambridge
Companion to Modern British Culture, edited by Michael Higgins, Clarissa Smith, and John
Storey, 62–78. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wodak, R., and B. Forchtner. 2014. “Embattled Vienna 1683/2010: Right-Wing Populism,
Collective Memory and the Fictionalisation of Politics.” Visual Communication 13 (2): 231–55.
Schedule
The workshop takes place on Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 May.
Monday 2 May
09.00 – 9.30
Introduction – everybody introduces themselves!
09.30 – 11.00
Introduction to Critical Discourse Studies
11.15 – 13.00
Discussion and hands-on analysis
13.00 – 14.30
Lunch break
14.30 – 16.00
Politics of Fear – Right-wing Populist Rhetoric (example of application of Critical
Discourse Studies / Discourse Historical Approach)
16.15 – 17.45
Hands-on analysis
Tuesday 3 May
09.30 – 11.00
The Discourse-Historical Approach – Designing a Study
11.15 – 13.00
Questions related to research of participants discussion, hands-on analysis
2 ■ Qualitative Research Methods: Critical Discourse Analysis, 3rd term 2015-2016