This document provides an overview of a lesson on conversation analysis (CA). It begins with an introductory quote and questions. It then covers the sociocultural tradition, ethnomethodology, conversations, and how CA fits within the sociocultural tradition. It defines CA and discusses how to do CA by recording, transcribing, and analyzing interactions without assumptions. It includes examples of interactions to look for and practices analyzing sample conversations. It concludes with a post-test and questions.

1. Conversation Analysis
(CA)
Assignment Two: Conversation Analysis Teaching
Ruth Nicole Hall
Spring 2014

2. Quote for Thought
“The single biggest problem with communication is
the illusion that it has taken place.”
~George Bernard Shaw

3. Questions and Comments
https://todaysmeet.com/ConversationAnalysisT
eaching

4. Contents of Teaching
Pre-Test
Sociocultural Tradition
Ethnomethodology and Sociocultural Tradition
Conversations
Sociocultural Tradition with Conversation Analysis (CA)
Watch Conversation Analysis (CA) Video
What is Conversation Analysis? (CA)
Doing Conversation Analysis (CA)
Post-Test
Questions and Comments

5. Conversation Analysis Pre-Test
http://www.polleverywhere.com/free_text_polls/J
MAZr2Yfw2yXDrq

6. Identity in the Sociocultural
Tradition...
Define yourself in terms of social groups
How you fit into the community at large
Your role in relation to others
“Your relationships”
(Littlejohn & Foss, 2010, p.

7. In the Sociocultural Tradition...
As related to Communication Theory
Views how we intermingle with ideas of society
such as “norms, rules, roles” in communication.
Our reality is defined by our interactions within
social groups.
(Littlejohn & Foss, 2010, p. 54-

8. Sociocultural Tradition
Discussion Question
How would you describe yourself in the
sociocultural tradition?

9. Ethnomethodology and
Sociocultural Tradition
Harold Garfinkel and Harvey Sacks
Ethnomethodology—Detailed observation of
everyday routines in our social lives
How we “manage behaviors [in social
interactions] at actual moments in time” (Littlejohn &
Foss, 2010).
(Littlejohn & Foss, 2010, p. 56)

10. Conversation
Daily informal interactions usually without much
thought
A conversation in a Communication theory is…
“an interaction sequence with a defined
beginning and end, turn taking, and a set of
goals” (Littlejohn & Foss, 2010, p. 179).
(Littlejohn & Foss, 2010, p. 179)

11. Conversations in the
Communication Theory
Conversations include…
Rules
Structure
Coherence
Sense
All types of interaction (verbal and nonverbal)
(Littlejohn & Foss, 2010, p. 179)

12. Conversation Discussion
Questions
What type of conversations do you engage in
daily?
How do those conversations effect your daily
life?

13. Quote for Thought
“The single biggest problem with communication is
the illusion that it has taken place.”
~George Bernard Shaw

14. Discussion Question
After listening to the story from the video, why do
you think there was a break down in
communication?

15. What is Conversation Analysis (CA)?
“The study of the orders of talk-in-interaction” (ten Have,
2007).
The study of “the organization of social
action…particularly in everyday actions” (Psathas, 1995).
“CA focuses more narrowly on the principles which
people use to interact with each other by means of
language” (Seedhouse, 2004).

16. Conversation Analysis Discussion
Question
In which areas of library science do you think
Conversation Analysis (CA) would be most useful? Why?

17. When Doing Conversation
Analysis
Record
Transcribe
Do Not Select Topics
Make No Assumptions
Do Not Pre Determine Categories
(ten Have, 2007; Psathas, 1995; Koshik & Okazawa,

18. What You Should Look For Doing
CA
Body Movement
Gestures
How the person expresses him or herself
Silences
Utterances
Similar actions of participants
(Psathas, 1995)

19. Doing Conversation Analysis—
Practice
1. Let’s have a short conversation. (2 to 5 minutes)
2. Then briefly analyze your the interaction within the
conversation both verbal and nonverbal. (2 to 5 minutes)
3. List each interaction on one stick note. (2 to 3 minutes)
4. Share what types of interactions were noted. (1 to 2 minutes)
5. Make categories and put interactions into those categories.
(3 to 5 minutes)

20. Let’s Try It Again!—Practice
Conversation Analysis from Greek
Remember to look for (Body Movement, Gestures, How the
person expresses him or herself, Silences, Utterances, &
Similar actions of participants)
1. Analyze the interactions in the video conversation both verbal
and nonverbal.
2. List each interaction on one sticky note.
3. Share what types of interaction you noted.
4. Make categories and put the interactions into those
categories.

21. Discussion Question
How was analyzing the first conversation
different from analyzing the second
conversation?

22. Conversation Analysis Post-Test
http://www.polleverywhere.com/free_text_polls/z
FQ29Br0FbfHr79

23. Questions and Comments
https://todaysmeet.com/ConversationAnalysisTe
aching

24. References
Koshik, I., & Okazawa, H. (2012). A conversation analytic study of actual and
potential problems in communication in library chat reference interactions. Journal
of the American Society for Information Science & Technology, 63(10), 2006-2019.
Retrieved from
http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2048/login?url=http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2060/login.aspx?direct
=true&db=a9h&AN=80125936&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Littlejohn, S. W., & Foss, K. A. (2010). Theories of human communication (10th ed.).
Long Grove, IL: Waveland.
Psathas, G. (1995). Conversation analysis: The study of talk-in-interaction.
Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications..
Seedhouse, P. (2004). Conversation analysis methodology. Language Learning, 54,
1-54. Retrieved from
http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct
=true&db=ehh&AN=62959559&site=ehost-live&scope=site
ten Have, P. (2007). Doing conversation analysis (2nd ed.). London: SAGE
Publications.

25. References-Media
AIEMACA. (2009, October 25). Fabienne Chevalier: IPRA diaries 2009.
Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLqglRwk_RQ
Bulletinaheart1. (2010, May 2). Conversation analysis. (Greek, Season 2,
Episode 5). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YItCE8t4WLA
Leadership Speaker Series. (2011, May 13). Leadership in Government
Speaker Series—Judge Eric Shepperd Part 2. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWOvDccMxMs
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