Abstract
Discourse analysis can contribute a major part in qualitative research in social sciences and its planning and policy making. The practical discourse analysis contributes two extra dimensions to existing research methods namely, words that matter and a critical approach to the context-specific and rhetorical character of analysis. The analysis provides instruments to describe the shared or divided meanings and the minimal changes in meanings and arguments. This dimension of conflicts and policy is interesting to policy analysts and planners, who are interested in policy formation and problem-solving. The mapping of meanings and the description of change in these meanings and arguments open up the possibility for policy analysts and planners to play a different role in policy formation and problem solving. Discourse theory and method separates language from practice, and tries to find causal relations in the use of language and the influence on practice.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 13-20 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Nederlandse Geografische Studies |
| Issue number | 344 |
| Publication status | Published - 2006 |