Study On Gender And Discourse: How Sure Were You Of The Ratings That You Gave?

Study on Gender and Discourse
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Institution
Study on Gender and Discourse
How sure were you of the ratings that you gave? What problems did you have with filling in the grid?
Getting the ratings was quite difficult because people talk differently and some tend to use some words sparingly. However, by counting the use of some words and determining when they were used helped to verify the ratings. For example, some people would use the words please, excuse me, I beg to differ, sorry, etc. to interrupt or to explain a differing perspective. However, others would fail to do so and even seek to drift the conversation towards a different subject. According to Tannen, an interruption is more than making sounds while someone is speaking. She explains that it involves showing a lack of support or interest, seeking control of a conversation, and finally dominance. In this study, the ratings were generated by using some of Tannen’s pointers, looking for certain words when people are talking, and even listening to how people pronounce some words (tonal variation). I cannot categorically say the results are accurate but I was able to deduce which spots in the conversation a group member was dissatisfied or disagreed with another or showed support.
The fact that some people used some of the pointers sparingly meant it was difficult to know whether they showed support or were dissatisfied with a colleague’s remarks. Properly establishing the line between contradicting and interrupting. It is indeed essential to understand where to draw the line between these two words before conducting this study.
Do you feel that the people in your group supported Deborah Tannen’s findings? Why do you think that this is true?
Yes.
This group did support Deborah Tannen’s findings. This was particularly evident when it came to interruptions. According to Tannen, men often seek dominance and control in a conversation. Therefore, most of them tend to interrupt other people during conversations. However, women often tend to practice cooperative overlapping or they tend to wait until their time arrives. The female members in the group clearly depicted the conversational attributes as stipulated by Tannen.
The study also confirmed that men often contradict others during a conversation. While seeking dominance and control in a conversation, men will often contradict their counterparts and try to change their perception. As per the study, this assertion was quite accurate.
If you were going to replicate this study, what would you do differently?
First I would seek to understand the topic of conversation further. This may not seem important but as people start talking, it would be beneficial to the researcher if he understands the topic. This will not only help him/her grasp the contradicting views, but will also help one to know whether a certain point is in support of what has been communicated.
Secondly, I would develop many pointers and words which would help me break the conversation down. This means I will be able to clearly decipher when people are affirming, contradicting or supporting a perspective. Finally, understanding ...