For those who wish to study in this laboratory, you are expected to write a paper using Conversation Analysis (CA). In papers written in this lab, you will be required to demonstrate a "research claim" using interaction data through the CA approach, specifically regarding how participants in interactions resolve the interactional tasks they face through methods repeatedly available. Furthermore, you will be asked to discuss the significance of the proven "research claim" in relation to existing research on the subject and its broader social implications.
Since CA is a thoroughly bottom-up research approach, researchers are expected to engage in "unmotivated observation" (Sacks 1984: 27) regarding the data to be analyzed. CA researchers immerse themselves in the interaction data, and the analysis is derived from the data itself. This methodical stance, unique to CA, may not be easy to adopt for those who have a strong preconceived problem awareness regarding their research theme or who are accustomed to other types of research methods.
Emanuel A. Schegloff, who systematized CA, has stated (Čmejrková and Prevignano 2003: 49) that learning CA is "quite diferent from simply taking on a new academic subject," requiring "painful reorientation" on "a long, hard road." He also said, "If they are not prepared for this, if they must get big payoffs early on, this may not be the way to go." However, Schegloff also remarked, "I can’t tell you the number of students who’ve told me later on how this work has changed their lives". Therefore, before deciding to study in this lab, please reconsider whether learning CA is truly necessary for you.
Specifically, I suggest first watching Dr. Elizabeth Stokoe's TED Talk on youtube titled "The science of analyzing conversations, second by second". Next, visit the "Em: does [CA. Videos" page on Dr. Emily Hofstetter's website and watch the youtube videos, especially Response Relevance, Repair, Action Ascription, and Jefferson Transcription 101. After that, please visit Dr. Charles Antaki's websit "An introductory tutorial in Conversation Analysis" and read from "What is CA?" to "analysis 2". Even though they are in Japanese, I also recomend my mini-lecture video and reading my paper (Nakagawa 2022). If you wish to pursue a doctoral program, I recommend challenging yourself with the textbook on CA (Sidnell 2010).
We welcome those who have completed the above steps to pursue CA studies in this lab.
{Regarding Applications}
・Research Students
If, after completing the above tasks, you still wish to join this lab as a research student, please contact Atsushi Nakagawa.
・Graduate Students
For the master's program, you will apply to the Graduate Program in Community Design Studies in the Division of Social Design, and for the doctoral program, you will apply to the Global and Regional Development Design Program in the Division of Advanced Transdisciplinary Science. You are required to take the examination in Japanese.
・Pre-Consultation
If you wish to apply for graduate school to study in this lab, you will need to have a pre-consultation with me, Atsushi Nakagawa, to ensure that the research theme and content you plan to pursue after admission align with the policies of this lab, as detailed on this page and the "Data that may (not) be used for research" page.
【References】
Čmejrková, Svetla and Carlo L. Prevignano, 2003, "On Conversation Analysis: An Interview with Emanuel A. Schegloff," Carlo L. Prevignano and Paul J. Thibault, eds., Discussing Conversation Analysis: The work of Emanuel A. Schegloff, pp. 11–55. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: Benjamins.
Couper-Kuhlen, Elizabeth and Margret Selting, 2017, Interactional Linguistics: Studying Language in Social Interaction, Cambridge University Press.
Nakagawa, Atsushi, 2022, "Conversation Analysis of Calls in Long-distance Caregiving: Soliciting an Offer by Presenting Desirability," Japanese Sociological Review, 73(2) 136-153.(Japanese)
Sacks, Harvey, 1984, “Notes on Methodology ,” J. Maxwell Atkinson and John Heritage eds., Structures of Social Action: Studies in Conversation Analysis, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 21-7.
Sidnell, Jack, 2010, Conversation Analysis: An Introduction, Wiley-Blackwell.