Qualitative Data Analysis: An
introduction
Carol Grbich
Chapter 18:
Conversation analysis
Conversation analysis
Key points
 Transcriptions of naturally occurring conversations form the
substance of the data in conversational analysis

Identification and discussion of the ‘devices’ used by
participants in the communication process provides the major
focus

Structures and social systems are reflected in interactive
behaviours

Analytical approaches include:
seeking the mundane in everyday conversations.
reading the language of environmental settings
understanding chat room conversation
Conversation analysis

When to use: when you have access to naturally occurring
conversations which can be transcribed

Type of research question: How do people interact through
the medium of conversations within particular environments?

Strengths: clarifies the dynamics of interaction by looking at
the minutiae of turn taking

Weaknesses: when we only have access to transcriptions of
spoken dialogue the revealing facial expressions and nonverbal communications are missing.
The purpose of conversation analysis
The objective of CA is the description of the
procedures by which conversationalists
produce their own behaviour and
understand and deal with the behaviour of
others.
The central goal of CA is the description and
explication of the procedures that ordinary
speakers use and rely on in participating in
intelligible, socially organized interaction.
Analysis and data presentation

A conversation is defined as at least two turns i.e. 2 people interacting
verbally).

The socio-cultural content and context of conversation or interactive
talk in the construction of meaning making can be explored through a
detailed inspection of tape recordings and their transcriptions.

Analysis focuses on conversation sets, visuals, non verbal interaction
and environmental and social structures that impact on everyday
behaviour as well as individual conversations .

Most practitioners of CA tend to refrain, in their research reports, from
extensive theoretical and methodological discussion but this varies
from discipline to discipline. A CA report will comprise a detailed
discussion of transcriptions of recordings of (mostly verbal)
interaction in terms of the 'devices' used by participants.
:

Speech acts
.
Assertions; these are statements which state, describe, predict, announce or speculate.
For example:
‘It is cold today’;
‘I wonder what the weather will be like tomorrow?’,
‘I think it will be fine.’
‘There are long flakes of snow catching on the leaves and sliding to the
ground’.
 Declaration; A stronger form of assertion ;
‘I pronounce you man and wife’
‘You’re hired/fired/redundant.’
‘I sentence you to 10 years of imprisonment’.
 Directives: These attempt to produce some form of action/response in another
person, through requests, commands, questions, suggestions and orders. E.g..:
‘Do this.’
‘Tell me what happened’,
‘Would you like to come with me?’
“Why did you do that?”

Commissives involve the elicitation of guarantees and vows of the order of;
‘Promise not to tell anyone else’.
Speech Acts 2
Expressive statements; here the speaker’s feelings are shared through apologies,
thanks, greetings, acknowledgements and compliments. For example;
‘I’m really sorry about that’,
“I think that definitely suits you’
“Thank you so much for…’.
 Sequential features – turn taking or adjacency pairs which are expected paired
interactions of matching responses such as:
‘Congratulations!’ and ‘Thank you very much’
‘Promise not to tell anyone’ and ‘I promise’,
“I wish to complain about…’ and ‘I’m very sorry about…’
“How are you?’ and ‘I am well, thank you”
‘Are you responsible for this?’ and ‘No I had nothing to do with that’.

Pairs may also be question and answer type pairs such as ;
‘Can I come round to visit you this evening?’ and ‘Yes/no’.
Some question answer pairs are more complex and contain conditional interactions e.g.
‘Shall we go for a walk this evening?’
‘Do you think it will rain?
‘No’
‘Then I’d love to,’
Researcher options

examine situated activities with audio/video equipment
seeking order and mundaneity in the constructed
interaction of everyday happenings.

attempt to make sense of information/visuals which are
very different from those of the usual conversational
interactions such as reading the language of a coffee bar
which converses with patrons both in terms of signs and
through the layout of tables and counter

put yourself in unusual situations where routine sense
making may not work, for example following non
sequential conversations recorded in chat rooms
A model of CA's research practices
Select episodes to be analysed Only ordinary conversation as it is naturally occurring
should be included, no interviews nor staged scripts Record the material to be analysed.
Transcribe
recordings. The following information should be included for complete
analysis of the conversation:
Time, date and place of the original recording
Participant information
Words and sounds as uttered
Spaces, silences
Overlapping speech and sounds
Pace, stretches (::), stress(es) (underlining), volume (CAPS indicate increased
volume)
Visual information
Check the episode carefully in terms of turn-taking:
Look for sequences
Try to make sense of the episode
Interpret the material in a comparative manner
(Adapted from ten Have 2007and Wang ,2011)
Questions to facilitate analysis:
Is the conversation:

an amicable, a heated discussion, or an outright argument about
personal or political issues?

Is it an equal exchange? or is one person leading?

What happens when one person moves to a dominant questioning
or declarative mode and how does this structure or impact on the
conversation?

Are any misunderstandings evident?

If there is any tension, how is it created? maintained? reflected in
the structure of the conversation?

What is your response as a reader to this conversation?
3 types of conversational analysis

mundane conversations

the ‘conversations; of public places

internet chat rooms.