Page 18 - English in Media Discourse

PART FOUR
DISCOURSE ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES

A. Introduction to discourse analysis methods and tools

Discourse analysis is a qualitative research method used to
study language in its social context. It aims to understand how
language is used in real-life situations and how it shapes and
reflects social reality. Here's an overview of discourse analysis
methods and tools based on the provided search results:
1. Definition and Purpose: Discourse analysis, also known
as critical discourse analysis, is used to study written or
spoken language in relation to its social context. It aims to
understand how language is used in real-life situations and
its impact on social issues and power dynamics 33.
2. Analytical Techniques: Discourse analysis disentangles
different agendas in various contexts, such as policy
documents, and is an analytic technique rather than a
theory. It has gained popularity due to the growing interest
in qualitative research and ways of analyzing the data it
produces 34.
3. Interdisciplinary Application: Discourse analysis has
been taken up in various disciplines in the humanities and
social sciences, including linguistics, sociology,
anthropology, psychology, and cultural studies. It is subject
to its own assumptions, dimensions of analysis, and
methodologies within each discipline 35.
4. Tools for Discourse Analysis: Tools such as Delve and
Quirkos are available to assist in coding and analyzing data
more efficiently and effectively for discourse analysis.
These tools provide valuable insights into the use of
language in data and are designed to aid qualitative
researchers in their analysis 36 37.
5. Methodological Flexibility: There is no right or wrong
way to conduct discourse analysis, and the research
methods used may vary depending on the subject, purpose
of the study, and research question. Fairclough's three-