Do you want to conduct a discourse analysis for your academic paper but feel confused by all the overly complicated explanations of this method?
In this video, I’ll answer the three most important questions about discourse analysis:
- What is a discourse, and how can this concept be understood?
- How do you conduct a discourse analysis step by step?
- What are some examples of discourse analysis?
By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly how to proceed to turn your discourse analysis into a structured academic paper.
What Is a Discourse?
To answer this question, there’s no avoiding the work of the French philosopher Michel Foucault (1926–1984). Foucault was a fascinating thinker who, alongside many other ideas and theories, significantly developed the concept of discourse.
For Foucault, “discourse” refers to all forms of statements, such as texts, terms or concepts, that circulate within a society and shape public dialogue about a particular topic. Discourse defines not only the language, but also the way society thinks about that topic.
From this arise unwritten rules about how the topic is discussed and what might be considered taboo. Ultimately, discourse even determines whether and how actions are taken in relation to that issue.
Examples from Foucault’s Work
One example from Foucault’s early work is the discourse surrounding mental illness—or, as he called it, madness. He analyzed when and how society began labeling individuals as insane and what was considered “normal” or “abnormal” behavior. It’s shocking to see how little it once took to be deemed insane and excluded from society.
Over time, these boundaries have shifted, and psychiatric care is no longer relegated to hospital basements.
Later, Foucault also analyzed discourses surrounding sexuality, yielding equally fascinating results. Discourse analysis almost always addresses topics that have significant societal relevance or explosive potential.
Discourse Analysis: Knowledge and Power
Another key point to remember: Foucault realized that discourse always involves knowledge and power. Power influences discourse—not necessarily in a positive or negative way, but in ways that must be considered.
- Power: A discourse analysis must take into account who participates in the discourse, why they do so, and what interests they represent in trying to shape it.
- Knowledge: A discourse develops over time and contributes to an increasingly sophisticated understanding. For instance, society once knew very little about the causes of mental illness, but today’s discourse reflects a far more nuanced perspective.
Foucault conducted his discourse analyses through linguistic deconstruction and reconstruction. However, his approach did not result in a reproducible scientific method.
To conduct a discourse analysis that meets modern academic standards, we need to look at how this method has been further developed.
Discourse Analysis as a Scientific Method (5 Steps)
Much like thematic analysis or the grounded theory approach, discourse analysis has been refined and expanded by many scholars. For simplicity, we’ll focus on the work of Reiner Keller, who wrote a whole book on discourse analysis and the different approaches to it.
Keller’s book The Sociology of Knowledge Approach to Discourse (2011) should be at the top of your reading list if you’re planning to conduct a discourse analysis.
A discourse analysis isn’t some vague or overly abstract process—it follows the same principles as other qualitative methods in empirical social research. In fact, it often uses many of the same components, as we’ll see in a moment.
Here’s Keller’s 5-step process:
#1 Formulating Research Questions
The research question for a discourse analysis is no different from any other research question. However, it must be framed so that discourse analysis is the logical methodological choice to address the question.
Example Research Question:
How is climate change being discussed in political discourse in the United States?
#2 Conducting a Literature Review
Next, as with any academic work, you’ll need to review the current state of research and engage with key concepts.
If you want to take your discourse analysis a step further, you can also develop a theoretical framework. In that case, you’ll need to adjust your research question to incorporate the theory into your analysis.
Example:
How does political discourse on climate change influence public attitudes in fossil fuel-dependent regions of the United States?
In this context, the “spiral of silence” theory could be a useful framework. This theory explains why certain groups refrain from expressing their opinions when they believe they are in the minority.
#3 Data Sampling
Now it’s time to collect your data. For discourse analysis, this typically means documents, such as texts or publications, that best reflect the public discourse on your topic.
Example:
For the research question on climate change, relevant data could include campaign platforms from Democratic and Republican candidates, congressional speeches, opinion pieces from major newspapers like The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal, and environmental reports from think tanks.
The principle of theoretical sampling, which you might recognize from grounded theory, also applies here. Your sample can expand over time. For instance, you could start with a Democratic Party campaign platform and then add a contrasting perspective, such as a Republican Party campaign platform. Depending on your research question, you can iteratively build your dataset to better understand the discourse.
#4 Coding
When analyzing your data, Keller again draws on grounded theory. He suggests creating categories that summarize and link recurring aspects of the discourse. Write comments and memos, which you can then abstract into broader categories.
Example:
In the discourse on climate change, a category like “economic impacts” might emerge if discussions frequently center on how climate policies affect jobs or industry competitiveness in the United States.
The unique aspect of discourse analysis is that it doesn’t focus on individual statements or actors (as is often the case with expert interviews) but rather on how the entirety and polarity of statements and actors interact. Your goal is to uncover overarching patterns that define the discourse.
#5 Presenting Results
In your results section, explain what you’ve uncovered about the discourse in relation to your research question. It might make sense to structure your findings by actors or thematic patterns based on your categories. Use subheadings for clarity and tables to present your results concisely and accessibly.
Discussing the Results of Your Discourse Analysis
These questions are a great way to guide your discussion. You can either work through them one by one to create a detailed overview of the discourse or pick a few key questions to focus on.
If you’re writing a term paper, it’s probably best to keep things manageable and stick to one or two questions. But for a master’s thesis, you’ll have more space to dig deeper, so tackling as many questions as possible will give you a richer, more comprehensive understanding of the discourse.
The main goal is to really analyze what’s happening in the discourse—its evolution, how it connects to other discourses, and the power dynamics driving it.
- What triggers the emergence of a discourse, and what factors contribute to its decline or transformation?
- What linguistic or symbolic strategies are employed to frame and convey meanings within the discourse?
- In what ways does the discourse shape and define objects, concepts, or identities?
- Which key events or turning points have significantly influenced the trajectory of the discourse?
- Which actors occupy specific speaker positions, and what strategies do they use to assert or legitimize their authority?
- Who initiates or controls the discourse, who is the intended target, and how is it received by the audience?
- What relationships or tensions exist between this discourse and other intersecting or opposing discourses?
- How does the discourse reflect, reinforce, or challenge prevailing social, cultural, or political contexts?
- What power effects are produced by the discourse, and how do these effects influence or intersect with societal practices and structures?
If the scope of your work allows, try to incorporate as many of these questions as possible into your discussion.
Conclusion
With Foucault’s concept of discourse, Keller’s 5-step methodology, and the discussion questions, you’re well-equipped to conduct your own discourse analysis.
However, remember: this video is only a quick introduction to the topic. It’s meant to inspire you to dive deeper. Grab Keller’s book or search for a documentary on Michel Foucault to immerse yourself further.
Discourse analysis isn’t difficult to understand or execute. There’s no strict right or wrong—it all depends on how you approach it.