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Cognition and conversation

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journal contribution
posted on 2012-02-07, 13:58 authored by Jonathan Potter
This article considers the different approaches to cognition in conversation analysis (CA) and discursive psychology (DP). Its points are illustrated through a critical but appreciative consideration of an article by Drew in which he uses conversation analysis to identify ‘cognitive moments’ in interaction. Problems are identified with Drew’s analysis and the conclusions he draws. In particular, he a) presupposes a dualistic division between depth and surface; b) makes circular inferences from conventional conversational patterns to underlying cognitive entities; c) presupposes (rather than demonstrates) that the underlying cognitive entities influence conduct. It is argued that none of these things is required by conversation analysis; rather Drew is imposing cognitivist assumptions on conversational materials. Discursive psychology’s approach focuses on cognitive issues in terms of how they are constructed and oriented to in interaction; its virtues are pressed.

History

School

  • Social Sciences

Department

  • Communication, Media, Social and Policy Studies

Citation

POTTER,J., 2006. Cognition and conversation. Discourse Studies, 8 (1), pp. 131 - 140

Publisher

© Sage

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Publication date

2006

Notes

This article was published in the journal, Discourse Studies [© Sage]. The definitive version is available at: http://dis.sagepub.com/content/8/1/131.short?rss=1&ssource=mfc

ISSN

1461-4456;1461-7080

Language

  • en