Page 160 - Encyclopedia of Nursing Research

DiSCoURSE AnALYSiS n 127

adolescent self-management of type 1 dia- research methodology is defined in a most
betes during the transition from middle to simplistic form as that encompassing analyt-
late adolescence. Consistent with the overall ical approaches applied to written or spoken D
aim of preventing long-term diabetes-related linguistic texts to derive knowledge regard-
complications as teens make the transition ing language use and meanings in text in
to adulthood, Melissa Spezia Faulkner at relation to contexts of discursive acts and
the University of Arizona is investigating texts (Alba-Juez, 2009). Specific analytic pro-
personalized exercise interventions for ado- cedures within discourse analysis are varied
lescents with diabetes and has shown that according to philosophical and paradigmatic
those who attain 60 minutes of exercise bouts orientations.
improve their overall cardiovascular fitness Discourse is viewed as an appropriate
(Faulkner, Michaliszyn, & hepworth, 2010). subject matter for research by various dis-
improvements in glycemic control ciplines, including linguistics, philosophy,
through individualized interventions devel- anthropology, sociology, psychology, infor-
oped and tested through scientific inquiry mation science, literary criticism, journal-
will increase the odds for minimizing compli- ism, and practice disciplines such as nursing
cations of diabetes, which affect personal QoL and medicine. Although the term discourse in
and productivity and contribute to the eco- relation to discourse analysis is defined and
nomic burden associated with diabetes care. used differently in linguistics and in other
Future research must embrace not only better disciplines, discourse refers to language in
outcomes, including decreasing health dis- use as connected speech or written texts pro-
parities in minorities, but also the enormous duced in social contexts rather than in terms
need for prevention in those predisposed to of single sentences considered in terms of
the disease. newer technologies for insulin grammar and syntax. Discourse analysis
delivery, continuous glucose sensing, and deals with texts of conversations and written
genetic engineering for individual therapies texts produced among individuals as well as
are on the horizon. Through their leadership those produced within larger social and his-
in transdisciplinary science, nurse research- torical environments, such as journal articles
ers will remain integral to the advancement or newspaper accounts that are not directed
of evidence-based diabetes care. to specific individuals as their audiences.
Discourse as the object of analysis is usually
Melissa Spezia Faulkner obtained from natural occurrences rather
than from constructions designed solely for
the purpose of analysis.
The term discourse in discourse analysis
DisCourse analysis is commonly accepted as a complex noun
with the previously mentioned definition.
however, the use of “a discourse” or “dis-
Discourse analysis is a methodology that has courses” can be often found in discourse
multiple meanings referring to a wide range analysis with the poststructural, critical
of analytical procedures. Such methodo- perspective. however, the current literature
logical diversity has resulted not only from abounds with both usages of the term (i.e.,
various philosophical traditions that treat “discourse” and “a discourse”), not neces-
discourse differently but also from concep- sarily used consistently within one specific
tualization of discourse analysis by diverse perspective.
disciplines that emphasize different aspects Discourse analysis has its historic origin
or meanings of discourse. From its multidis- in the ancient Greek differentiation of gram-
ciplinary orientation, discourse analysis as a mar and rhetoric in language use (van Dijk,