Research
Research Statement
My research utilizes the tools of qualitative research (including Conversation Analysis, Discourse Analysis, Ethnography of Communication, etc.) to examine language use and social practices in everyday life. Ultimately, I am interested in generating rich, detailed accounts of how people accomplish actions, identities, and relationships through communication and how these behaviors may also lead to greater understanding of one’s self, life circumstances, or the ways in which social interaction is structured and organized. More specifically, my latest work has focused on documenting the narrative practices of LBGT individuals in institutional and everyday settings. Other projects I am currently working on involve mediated communication technologies, theories of politeness, and various methodological approaches to the study of verbal discourse. In short, my research interests lie primarily in Language and Social Interaction (LSI), in particular how identities and relationships are constructed, managed, and challenged through everyday social conduct.
Wait, so what exactly does Language & Social Interaction (LSI) refer to again?
"Language and Social Interaction is a subfield of the Discipline of Communication, and an official division of the National Communication Association and International Communication Association. In general, LSI research deals with the structure and function of language, embodiment, and tool use, as it occurs between two or more humans, as they interact with one another in ‘real-time,’ voice-to-voice or face-to-face interaction. LSI research tends to examine how speakers construct and negotiate meanings, identities, and relationships in and through interaction. There are a number of different LSI approaches, such as Conversation Analysis, Discourse Analysis, and Ethnography of Communication. All of these approaches are essentially qualitative, but have slightly different theoretical assumptions, methodological approaches, and analytic agendas. LSI research is interdisciplinary, and draws on findings from Anthropology, Communication, Linguistics, Psychology, and Sociology, among others." (This superb description is taken from the website of Professor Jeffrey Robinson at Portland State University).
Current research projects:
1) Preparing a manuscript to be submitted to the Narrative Inquiry in fall 2011.
2) Preparing a manuscript to be proposed for an upcoming volume on multitasking in interaction in fall 2011.
3) Analyzing data related to reminiscences in everyday conversation.
4) Beginning initial research related to my dissertation.
5) Continue assisting with Dr. Jenny Mandelbaum's research team investigating conversations at the family dinner table.
Prior to these projects, I have acquired research experience in projects related to social and personal relationships (with Leanne Knobloch), corpus linguistics (with John Swales), human sexuality (with Kristin Scherrer), and social psychology (at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan).
My research utilizes the tools of qualitative research (including Conversation Analysis, Discourse Analysis, Ethnography of Communication, etc.) to examine language use and social practices in everyday life. Ultimately, I am interested in generating rich, detailed accounts of how people accomplish actions, identities, and relationships through communication and how these behaviors may also lead to greater understanding of one’s self, life circumstances, or the ways in which social interaction is structured and organized. More specifically, my latest work has focused on documenting the narrative practices of LBGT individuals in institutional and everyday settings. Other projects I am currently working on involve mediated communication technologies, theories of politeness, and various methodological approaches to the study of verbal discourse. In short, my research interests lie primarily in Language and Social Interaction (LSI), in particular how identities and relationships are constructed, managed, and challenged through everyday social conduct.
Wait, so what exactly does Language & Social Interaction (LSI) refer to again?
"Language and Social Interaction is a subfield of the Discipline of Communication, and an official division of the National Communication Association and International Communication Association. In general, LSI research deals with the structure and function of language, embodiment, and tool use, as it occurs between two or more humans, as they interact with one another in ‘real-time,’ voice-to-voice or face-to-face interaction. LSI research tends to examine how speakers construct and negotiate meanings, identities, and relationships in and through interaction. There are a number of different LSI approaches, such as Conversation Analysis, Discourse Analysis, and Ethnography of Communication. All of these approaches are essentially qualitative, but have slightly different theoretical assumptions, methodological approaches, and analytic agendas. LSI research is interdisciplinary, and draws on findings from Anthropology, Communication, Linguistics, Psychology, and Sociology, among others." (This superb description is taken from the website of Professor Jeffrey Robinson at Portland State University).
Current research projects:
1) Preparing a manuscript to be submitted to the Narrative Inquiry in fall 2011.
2) Preparing a manuscript to be proposed for an upcoming volume on multitasking in interaction in fall 2011.
3) Analyzing data related to reminiscences in everyday conversation.
4) Beginning initial research related to my dissertation.
5) Continue assisting with Dr. Jenny Mandelbaum's research team investigating conversations at the family dinner table.
Prior to these projects, I have acquired research experience in projects related to social and personal relationships (with Leanne Knobloch), corpus linguistics (with John Swales), human sexuality (with Kristin Scherrer), and social psychology (at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan).
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