Mercer, N. (2010). The analysis of classroom talk: Methods and methodologies

This article describes methods for analysing classroom talk, comparing their strengths and weaknesses. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are described and assessed for their strengths and v^eaknesses, with a discussion of the mixed use of such methods. It is acknowledged that particular methods are often embedded in particular methodologies, which are based on specific theories of social action, research paradigms, and disciplines; and so a comparison is made of two contemporary methodologies, linguistic ethnography, and sociocultural research. The article concludes with some comments on the current state of development of this field of research and on ways that it might usefully progress.

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Key ideas:

• Quantitative methods: Systematic observation - Computer-based text analysis
• Qualitative methods: Ethnographic analysis - Sociolinguistic discourse analysis- Conversation analysis
• Mixed methods: sociocultural discourse analysis.

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