Born on: September 5, 1999

WELCOME TO MODULE 8: THEME ANALYSIS


Title of this web page -->Narrative Methods for Organizational and Communication Research
by David M. Boje, Ph.D.
Purpose: a web resource library of qualitative materials, exercises, and study guides to supplement the (2001) book titled Narrative Methods for Organizational and Communication Research. London: Sage Publications. See Amazon to order book and/or read book review.

Each module on this web site will tackle a different analysis in Narrative Analysis for Management and Communication Research (hereafter NA). Then we situate that analysis in its philosophy of science context - (press here) for summary table.

Readings Index & Abbreviations Explained (All Modules)

  1. NA Narrative Analysis for Management and Communication Research (book) by Boje (2001) the modules that follow are keyed to the chapters of this book.
  2. HQR: Handbook of Qualitative Research by Denzin & Lincoln (can buy the soft cover books; excellent book for background on methods and qualitative philosophies of science).
  3. ES: Ethnostatistics by Gephart (this book transcends all false dichotomies of qualitative and quantitative).
  4. WC: Writing Culture by Clifford & Marcus (optional good for intermediate).
  5. PO: Participant Observation by Spradley (optional good for beginners).
  6. GC: Greening Culture by Herndl & Brown (optional great for very advanced QM writing).
  7. FG: Focus Group text by Krueger (required for Marketing, optional for others).
Background Reading for this Module (bold = required).

MODULE 8 - THEME ANALYSIS -  (Continued)  - there is a floating menu on your left that takes you between modules or to the top of this one.

Content analysis & semiotic inquiry: Recording, organizing data and identifying domains and taxonomies
 

ASSIGNMENT READ and Note Each of 5 Frames:
  1. Boje presentation in Netherlands: Flight of Antenarrative in Phenomenal Complexity Theory, Tamara, Storytelling Organization Theory
  2. Boje presentation in Netherlands: Before the Story Can be Told: An Antenarrative of the World Trade Center and Pentagon Disaster; also see Hybridity Visuals

 

ASSIGNMENT OPTIONS
A.  Theme Analysis Assignment: Based upon the descriptions provided in Nike activist documents on the web at http://business.nmsu.edu/~dboje/nike.html, conduct and share your own domain, taxonomy, and componential analyses (Spradley, step 5, step 7, & step 11). Write up your taxonomy, componential, and domain charts listing definitions of your categories and report your classification schemes in this class meeting.

B. Assignment: Conduct a focus group of a College at NMSU. Using a tape recorder and your notebook, take a cultural inventory (Spradley step 11) of our organizational history by asking two to three folks to discuss their organizational life and the significant things that have happened to them. Don't worry about getting the events in the right chronological order. But, do follow up with domain and cultural inventory questions. It is often better to let them tell their stories in the order of importance to them, and then to relate other events as they come to memory in the telling. Then, follow-up with domain and theme analysis. It is usually a very bad idea to work with someone who you know well, such as a family member or good friend. Include in your notes at least one page of close transcription of the tape. Enter your data and codes and schema into the NUDIST program. Bring your printouts to class.

C. Do some variation of a theme analysis using your own semester term project.


Readings

Web Resources 


Recommended

Marketing Readings on Content Analysis

 

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