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Social Interaction & Conversation Analysis - SOC00010I

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  • Department: Sociology
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Darren Reed
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2021-22
    • See module specification for other years: 2022-23

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2021-22
B Spring Term 2021-22
C Summer Term 2021-22

Module aims

The aims of this module are to introduce you to the ways in which we interact with one another in ordinary social settings and to enable you to undertake your own research into talk-in-interaction (principally conversation and ordinary social interactions).

Module learning outcomes

  • An understanding of some of the key approaches, and principles, in studying human social interaction
  • A mastery of the perspective and methods of CA in investigating ordinary interaction, and an understanding of the principal findings of CA research
  • Skills in applying CA techniques to original data, so that you can conduct your own research in this area
  • An understanding of language in use as a form social action rather than the conduit for information to flow from one persons brain to anothers.

Indicative assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Visiting Student Assessment
Essay		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Visiting Student Assessment
Essay		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Written Feedback

Indicative reading

Heritage, J. (1984). Garfinkel and Ethnomethodology. Cambridge: Polity Press, chapter 8.

Drew, P. (2005) Conversation analysis. In K. L. Fitch and R. E. Sanders (eds) Handbook of Language and Social Interaction. Mawah, NJ, Lawrence Erlbaum: pp. 71-102.

Sidnell, J. (2010) Conversation Analysis: An Introduction. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. Please note: it is preferable for students to buy their own copy of this book as it s used extensively throughout the course.

Toerien, M. (2013) Conversations and conversation analysis. In U. Flick (ed.) SAGE Handbook of Analyzing Qualitative Data. London: Sage.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.