[ecrea] 2nd DiscourseNet spring school on the Critical Usage of Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Methods Software in Discourse Studies

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

The second DiscourseNet Spring School will focus on the Critical usage 
of Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed-Method Software in Discourse 
Studies. The goal is to explore and experience the possibilities and 
limitations of software usage in discourse related research. As such, 
this school seeks to foster both critical awareness and knowledge about 
the way software can (not) be used in this interdisciplinary field of 
inquiry. All information can be found at http://dns2.discourseanalysis.net .

SPRING SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENT

Technology is never neutral. The design and usage of any technology are 
always informed by implicit and explicit presuppositions about data, 
knowledge, reality, meaning, interpretation and subjectivity. 
Technologies shape and transform the objects it operates on ñ no matter 
if these objects are things or people. Keeping this principle in mind, 
this school offers a unique opportunity for beginning researchers to 
present their questions, doubts and ideas on using software in their 
discourse related analyses.

We welcome researchers from all field - linguistics, literature, 
ethnography, anthropology, communication studies, sociology, political 
science - interested in critical perspectives on discourse, on 
methodology,  and on discourse analysis. No prior knowledge about these 
tools is required. The goals is to get acquainted with a variety of 
options for doing digital discourse analysis. A non-exclusive list of 
topics to be covered includes:
What can one expect from software in discourse studies? Wherein lies the 
added value, if any? And how does one realize this value to the fullest?
What kind of theoretical, heuristic and methodological issues need to be 
addressed when using software in discourse studies?
How can one use software tools in order to investigate the dispersion 
and functioning of discursive and ideological processes such as 
argumentation, identification, interpellation, hegemonization and so on?
To what extent can we go beyond ëmere codingí and ëcountingí when 
using quantitative, qualitative or mixed-methods software packages?How 
can we use software tools to explore the various linguistic, multimodal 
and knowledge-related dimensions of discourse?
How and when does one decide about whether to use software in discourse 
studies? And if so, what (kind of) package should one use? How can we 
use software in order to identify, explore and/or rearticulate 
ideologies, hegemonies and other large-scale discursive patterns in data?
Does the usage of software provide an added value in our search for 
implicit meanings in linguistic and multimodal forms of discourse?
How can software be used in order to visualize quantitative and/or 
qualitative patterns in discourse?

We provide an introduction into key theoretical, heuristic and practical 
issues regarding research design in computer-assisted discourse 
analysis. We offer three interactional workshops focusing on the use of 
quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods software in discourse 
studies. After each workshop, participants will present ongoing research 
projects so they can receive feedback from fellow researchers.

Candidates may work with data as varied as interview transcripts, focus 
groups, ethnographic observations, multimodal and/or mediatized data 
from quantitative and qualitative perspectives. We aim for a diverse 
group of participants working with a variety of perspectives ranging 
from interactional and pragmatic approaches to discourse to the more 
abstract poststructuralist discourse theories, and anything in between 
and beyond.

The deadline for application is October 31st. Students may expect a 
decision on their application on November 15th. The spring school itself 
takes place from March 21st to March 24th. More information and 
registration instructions can be found at: 
http://dns2.discourseanalysis.net .

Note that prior to this Spring School, the 17th DiscourseNet conference 
on Reflexivity and Critique in Discourse will also take place at UNAV 
from March 16th to March 18th. This conference has been organized as a 
collaboration between DiscourseNet and the Public Discourse (GRADUN) 
project of the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) at the University 
of Navarra (UNAV). If you have any questions, feel free to contact Jan 
Zienkowski at (discoursenetspringschool /at/ unav.es) .


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