Discourse Analysis: Principles, Applications and Critique

Abstract

With increasing attention being given to the use of qualitative methods in health research, there has been a concurrent growth in interest concerning different positions within the broad enterprise of ‘qualitative research’. Discourse analysis, a methodology falling within the postmodern tradition, has to date been little used within therapy research. This paper outlines the principles of discourse analysis, before reviewing the research literature in the fields of the therapies, nursing and medicine where discourse analysis has been used, in order to explore and clarify what this methodology can offer. Finally, a critique of discourse analysis is presented.