Conversation Analysis - LAN00112M
Module summary
This module introduces conversation analysis (CA), a naturalistic-observational method for the study of language and social interaction. Students learn how participants use systematic practices to coordinate action through talk and other forms of conduct. The module progresses through three phases: (1) theoretical foundations and methodological principles; (2) the core practices of interaction, including turn-taking, sequence organization, and repair; and (3) the development of original data analysis projects. Seminar activities emphasize hands-on work with authentic interactional data. Students transcribe and analyse talk, build collections of interactional phenomena, and develop guided data analysis projects. The module covers not only the empirical findings of CA but also the analytic methods by which researchers produce those findings.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2026-27 |
Module aims
The module aims to:
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Introduce conversation analysis as a qualitative research method for the study of naturally occurring social interaction
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Develop an understanding of the systematic organisation of social interaction, including turn-taking, action-sequencing, and repair
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Provide experience with transcription and the analysis of authentic audio and video recordings of real-world language use
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Equip students with methods for the empirical analysis of patterns in everyday social situations and language in use
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Develop effective written communication skills for the presentation of research findings
Module learning outcomes
At the end of the module, you will be able to:
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Identify systematic patterns in recordings of naturally occurring social interaction
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Explain the fundamental organisations of social interaction, including turn-taking, sequence structure, and repair
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Employ conversation analytic terminology to describe interactional phenomena with appropriate technical conventions
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Produce accurate transcripts of authentic interaction data using standard conventions
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Use software applications to support transcription and analysis of audio and video recordings
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Build collections of interactional phenomena from primary audio and video recordings
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Analyse specimen collections using conversation analytic methods and communicate findings in written research reports
Module content
The module will cover the following topics and skills:
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Theoretical foundations and methodological principles of conversation analysis
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Transcription
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Turn-taking
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Sequence organisation
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Repair
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Action formation
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Preference
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The identification and collection of interactional phenomena
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The design and execution of conversation analytic research
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100.0 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100.0 |
Module feedback
Students will receive oral feedback on their seminar work. Written feedback on both formative and summative assessments will be provided through commentary on assignments and structured feedback forms with assessment rubrics. Feedback for the first summative assessment will be returned before the end of the semester, and feedback for the second will be returned within 25 working days.
Indicative reading
Clift, R. (2016). Conversation Analysis. Cambridge University Press.
Hoey, E. M., & Kendrick, K. H. (2017). Conversation Analysis. In P. Hagoort & A. M. B. De Groot (Eds.), Research Methods in Psycholinguistics and the Neurobiology of Language (pp. 151–173). Wiley-Blackwell.
Kendrick, K. H., & Holler, J. (2024). Conversation. In M. C. Frank & A. Majid (Eds.), Open Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science. MIT Press.
Robinson, J. D., Clift, R., Kendrick, K. H., & Raymond, C. W. (Eds.). (2024). The Cambridge Handbook of Methods in Conversation Analysis. Cambridge University Press.