[ecrea] new book: The Promise of Dialogue - The Dialogic Turn in the Production and Communication of Knowledge

*The Promise of Dialogue*

*The Dialogic Turn in the Production and Communication of Knowledge*

Louise Phillips

Professor of Communication
Roskilde University

[Dialogue Studies, 12] 2011. x, 198 pp.

Hb 978 90 272 1029 6 EUR 90.00

E-book 978 90 272 8414 3 EUR 90.00

John Benjamins Publishing Company

It has become commonplace to employ dialogue-based approaches in 
producing and communicating knowledge in diverse fields. Here, 
"dialogue" has become a buzzword that promises democratic, participatory 
processes of mutual learning and knowledge co-production. But what does 
"dialogue" actually entail in the fields in which it is practised and 
how can we analyse those practices in ways that take account of their 
complexities?

/ /

/The Promise of Dialogue /presents a novel theoretical framework for 
analysing the dialogic turn in the production and communication of 
knowledge that builds bridges across three research traditions - 
dialogic communication theory, action research, and science and 
technology studies. It also provides an empirically rich account of the 
dialogic turn through case studies of how dialogue is enacted in the 
fields of planned communication, public engagement with science and 
collaborative research. A critical, reflexive approach is taken that 
interrogates the complexities, tensions and dilemmas inherent in the 
enactment of "dialogue" /and /is oriented towards further developing 
dialogic practices from a position normatively supportive of the 
dialogic turn.

"With this insightful guide to the dialogic turn in communication 
studies and its application to cases in planned communication campaigns, 
public engagement with science, and collaborative research, Phillips 
fulfills the promise of dialogue. Her integration of action research and 
science and technology studies with dialogic communication theory and 
research provides a theoretical framework that she applies to 
collaborative research and organizational, community, and public 
practices. A must read for every researcher, student and practitioner of 
dialogue." Kenneth N. Cissna, Editor of /Qualitative Communication 
Research/, Professor and Chairperson, Department of Communication, 
University of South Florida.

For more information see http://benjamins.com/#catalog/books/ds.12/main