Transcript Developing a Research Agenda in Collaborative and Partnered

Developing a Research Agenda
in Collaborative and Partnered
Professional Communication:
Accounting for Accounts
Christopher N Candlin & Alan A Jones
Department of Linguistics,
Macquarie University, Sydney.
April 9th, 2006.
Christopher Candlin & Alan Jones: Developing a Research Agenda in Collaborative & Partnered Professional Communication.
1. What do we mean by
‘partnered’?
2. What do we mean by
‘collaborative’?
1 – A focus on product
(outcomes)
2 – A focus on process
(means)
Christopher Candlin & Alan Jones: Developing a Research Agenda in Collaborative & Partnered Professional Communication.
Accountability and
Accounts
Product v process
• What do such accounts imply?
• How are such accounts defined?
• Who is responsible for such accounts?
Christopher Candlin & Alan Jones: Developing a Research Agenda in Collaborative & Partnered Professional Communication.
Different accounts, and
different goals
• The professional partner frames the project as
the development and exercise of professional
skills and, ultimately, professional expertise
• The research partner frames the project as an
experiment in applied DA
• The professional partner’s goal: exercise skills,
i.e. engage in skilled results-oriented practices.
• The research partner’s goal: demonstrate that
applied DA can enhance professional practice
Christopher Candlin & Alan Jones: Developing a Research Agenda in Collaborative & Partnered Professional Communication.
Account #1 (from the discourse
of professional partners)
• Communication is viewed as a means to an end.
• Communicative interactions and relationships are
viewed as necessary but perhaps peripheral.
• Professional goals are thought to be achieved
through the production of accurate diagnoses,
briefs, reports (= official, or ‘espoused’ discourse).
• The ‘Professional Partner’ sees (and talks about)
professional practices as being product oriented.
• Universities produce ‘fit-for-purpose’ graduates who
then themselves produce accurate ‘accounts’ or
‘accountings’ for organisations/institutions.
Christopher Candlin & Alan Jones: Developing a Research Agenda in Collaborative & Partnered Professional Communication.
Account #2 (from the discourse
of discourse practitioners)
• Communication is viewed as the
realisation of professional purposes, as
practices – i.e. the Research Partner sees
professional practice as a process.
• The acquisition of professional skills, i.e.
expertise, is accounted for as discursive
practice, and as interactional process.
• Integration of content and language
(Maastricht conference, 2006; ICLHE).
Christopher Candlin & Alan Jones: Developing a Research Agenda in Collaborative & Partnered Professional Communication.
Two worlds:
four ‘discourses’
• The espoused discourse of professional practice
centres on constructs like clarity, accuracy, honesty,
etc., in diagnoses, briefs, reports (i.e. ‘accounts’).
• The tacit discourse of professionals centres on
risk, advice and advocacy for lay decision-makers.
• The primary discourse of discourse practitioners
centres on analysis. (Discourse Analysis = DA).
• The secondary discourse of discourse
practitioners centres on supporting the real-world
practices of the professionals and/or partners.
Christopher Candlin & Alan Jones: Developing a Research Agenda in Collaborative & Partnered Professional Communication.
Case Study:
Financial Accounting
PARTICIPANTS:
Samantha Sin – accounting lecturer
the professional
partner
Alan Jones
– discourse practitioner
the research/discourse
partner
Christopher Candlin & Alan Jones: Developing a Research Agenda in Collaborative & Partnered Professional Communication.
“What’s in a name?”
Most general definition of ‘accounting’:
a convincing explanation that reveals
basic causes.
Example: "he was unable to give a
clear accounting for his actions"
From: wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
Christopher Candlin & Alan Jones: Developing a Research Agenda in Collaborative & Partnered Professional Communication.
The specialised definition
(accounting = accountancy)
• accountancy: the occupation and the
profession responsible for maintaining and
auditing financial records and preparing
financial reports for a business
Closely based on wordnet definition:
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
Christopher Candlin & Alan Jones: Developing a Research Agenda in Collaborative & Partnered Professional Communication.
Meanings ‘in practice’
Two distinct but parallel ‘accountings’
Accounting as a professional ‘practice’ –
producing financial accountings for
business organisations (‘practices’)
Discourse analysis as praxis – reveals that
accounting practice is largely
accomplished through talk and writing
(people talk the practice into existence)
Christopher Candlin & Alan Jones: Developing a Research Agenda in Collaborative & Partnered Professional Communication.
When worlds ‘collude’
• Six months of talk to agree that we can
‘collude’ i.e., collaborate …
• Six months to forge the ground-rules – the
‘contract’ – the partnership …
• Two different ‘discourses’
• Two different sets of goals
• Two different sets of incentives
Christopher Candlin & Alan Jones: Developing a Research Agenda in Collaborative & Partnered Professional Communication.
What have we learned?
• Don’t begin with a method, begin
with a problem and/or a question.
• Uncover ‘mutuality’ through lots of talk.
• Goals and accountings can be aligned:
practice-research nexus.
• Different accountings can be fruitfully
combined; qualitative and quantitative.
• Productive synergies >> new knowledge
in the form of joint accountings.
Christopher Candlin & Alan Jones: Developing a Research Agenda in Collaborative & Partnered Professional Communication.
Now what?
Where does all this leave us in terms of
a research agenda?
• What types of professional would respond to
invitations from researchers?
• What is in it for the professional partner?
• What steps need to be taken – in what order?
• What kind of accountings could emerge?
• Each group to produce 8 – 10 Bullet Points.
• Points to be discussed in open session.
Christopher Candlin & Alan Jones: Developing a Research Agenda in Collaborative & Partnered Professional Communication.