Discourse Analysis, Methods, Theory and Practice: Investigating Girls and Women in Sciences

Description

Discourse Analysis is widely is used as a method in social research. However, the how and what to analyze is not always clear, particularly in the latest perspectives dubbed Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). CDA is attractive because of the way it identifies a social problem and then goes on to use language lenses to study it. The connection between social problems and language, however, is not always easy. This book gives a snapshot of the trends in discourse analysis, and then goes to give an example of doing discourse analysis in a research that focused on the social-educational problem of girls/women missing out in sciences. Using discourse analysis, the connection between gender, science and language is made; hence unearthing the concerns about women into sciences stemming from society, which though mentioned in many documents, have not yet been spelt out before using linguistic lenses. The author shows the subtle ways in which science classroom practices are influenced a lot by what is within and outside the immediate wall of the classroom and also by the wider society. The methods mentioned in this book will be relevant to researchers interested in discourse analysis in social science specifically in history, political science, linguistics, communication and education practitioners as well as those in industry interested in raising the numbers of women/girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

This text covers a gap in the study of gender issues in the classroom in Kenya. The analysis exploring the reasons for the relatively poorer performance of girls in the sciences opens the way for other studies that involve a detailed analysis of classroom interaction. The book is a gem to the Ministry of Education, college students of education and teachers, and university students of linguistics; both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels [Dr. Basil J. Okong’o, Moi University, Kenya].

Catherine Wawasi Kitetu is an Associate Professor at Egerton University, Kenya, in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. She did her undergraduate studies at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, and MA studies at University of East Anglia, UK. Her doctorate degree was obtained at Lancaster University, UK, where she also taught at the School of Linguistics and Modern English Language. She has been Chairperson of Languages and Linguistics Department at Egerton University, external examiner at the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Islamic University (Uganda) and at Institute of Rwanda for courses in Linguistics, English and Kiswahili languages. She was a member of CODESRIA’s Governing Council and, presently, is a member of Scott University Council. She has worked as County Executive Member for Nakuru County Government in Education and Public Service Management. Her research focus is on language, gender and education. She has published widely in international journals and made presentations in many conferences. Prof Kitetu is a member of various professional bodies.