Course content

This interdisciplinary course highlights discourse analytical approaches with a particular focus on methodological issues and analytical work. Dealing with different data such as video observations, interviews and texts, a main aim in this course is to discuss distinct discourse analytical approaches and various research traditions as well as attending to their potentials, challenges and dilemmas. The course raises some important questions such as how to approach the research problem, how to transcribe and present data, and how to carry out various discourse analytical approaches. Furthermore, participants will present data in relation to their research interest and be encouraged to raise analytical and methodological questions that they find interesting and challenging. While keeping the thematic scope fairly open, and by including diverse settings, the course will however specialise in discourse analytical approaches in relation to pedagogical practices in its widest sense (e.g. work life, family life, education, leisure, policy, and the media).

Learning outcome

Knowledge - The candidate:

• has advanced knowledge on theoretical foundations and methodological approaches within the field of discourse analysis

Skills - The candidate:

• can formulate relevant research questions and carry out discourse analysis in relation to various data materials
• can assess the relevance, potentials and challenges of discourse analytical approaches in research

General competence - The candidate:

• can carry out his/her research with scholarly integrity
• can communicate research and contribute to the development of new knowledge and new methods within the field of discourse analysis

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, workshops, and presentations. Participants will present data in relation to their research interests and be encouraged to raise analytical and methodological questions that they find interesting and challenging in their research. To give and receive peer critique is also part of the course. Lectures will mainly be given in Scandinavian. Assignments and papers can be written in Norwegian or English.

Compulsory assignments

• Attending lectures is compulsory

Further on evaluation

In this course a paper should be handed in after the course. The length of the paper should be 10-12 pages. The research questions or topic of the paper must be within the frame of the course and relate to the course literature.

Recommended previous knowledge

• Maximum: 15 PhD candidates. Minimum: 5 PhD candidates are required to give this course.
• Application for participation.
• The number of participants is restricted, and will be accepted on a first come basis.
• The application should contain an abstract (about 300 words) where the student describes his/her research interest and how this may be connected to discourse analytical approaches.

Required previous knowledge

Master's degree in social sciences, educational sciences, humanities or equivalent.

PhD students are prioritized for admission.

Course materials

Approximately 600 pages