Abstract

Corpus-assisted discourse studies (CADS) has developed into a mature and popular approach to the study of text and talk. Yet researchers still need to face certain key methodological challenges every time they design a research project. These include: finding the right fit between the research question, data, method and theory; preventing analytical tools from dictating the research process; maintaining the distinction between quantitative and qualitative tools; ensuring that empirical claims are commensurate with the representativeness of the data; and avoiding the misinterpretation of findings. Although none of these challenges can be overcome entirely, significant benefits can be reaped from addressing them critically and self-reflectively.

Highlights

  • Corpus-assisted discourse studies (CADS) has developed into a mature and popular approach to the study of text and talk

  • It seems fair to say that twenty-odd years after it first appeared on the methodological fringe, corpus-assisted discourse studies, the field served by JCaDS, has gravitated towards the mainstream

  • Most researchers would probably be happy to go along with Partington (2010, p. 88), who describes corpus-assisted discourse studies as ‘the investigation and comparison of features of particular discourse types, integrating into the analysis, where appropriate, techniques and tools developed within corpus linguistics’

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Summary

Corpora and discourse studies

The launch of the Journal of Corpora and Discourse Studies one year ago was not just a fresh departure and a sign of maturity and consolidation. From other fields (such as CDA, Critical Discourse Analysis, and ELF, English as a Lingua Franca), we know that the moment when an ‘approach’ — usually code for a combination of theory, method, and mindset — morphs into a handy acronym heralds the birth of a shared scholarly identity. Such an identity is a vehicle for teaming up with like-minded peers in order to muster increased momentum for research and to share ideas, data and tools. Before identifying what I consider to be five key challenges for researchers at the project design stage, I will examine why, in broad terms, fixing on a methodology can be so problematic for researchers of discourse — they may define it

Getting started on ‘doing discourse’
Five key challenges in research design
Preventing analytical tools from dictating the research process
Maintaining the distinction between quantitative and qualitative methods
Avoiding the misinterpretation of findings
No easy answers
The quest goes on

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