A qualitative method for analysing multivoicedness

Abstract

‘Multivoicedness’ and the ‘multivoiced Self’ have become important theoretical concepts guiding research. Drawing on the tradition of dialogism, the Self is conceptualised as being constituted by a multiplicity of dynamic, interacting voices. Despite the growth in literature and empirical research, there remains a paucity of established methodological tools for analysing the multivoiced Self using qualitative data. In this article, we set out a systematic, practical ‘how-to’ guide for analysing multivoicedness. Using theoretically derived tools, our three-step method comprises: identifying the voices of I-positions within the Self’s talk (or text), identifying the voices of ‘inner-Others’, and examining the dialogue and relationships between the different voices. We elaborate each step and illustrate our method using examples from a published paper in which data were analysed using this method. We conclude by offering more general principles for the use of the method and discussing potential applications.

A Transdisciplinary Approach to Examining and Confidence-Boosting the Experiences of Chinese Teachers of Chinese in Finland

“…After several careful readings and discussions by both authors, relevant parts of the transcribed data were selected and translated into English. A qualitative method for exploring multivoicedness (Aveling et al, 2014) was employed in the data analysis, which was also informed by transdisciplinary ideas related to the intercultural discussed in the previous sections. The 'analysis of multivoicedness,' originating in Bakhtin's dialogism, recognizes the multivoiced nature of the Self and argues that the Self is not single or unitary (Aveling et al, 2014); rather, it is always infused with and directed at the voices of others.…”

“…The concepts of 'voice' and 'multivoicedness' are used by many researchers from different fields to analyse the 'hybridity' of identities (Aveling et al, 2014;Bhatia, 2002;Hermans, 2001). For example, in Bhatia's (2002) study of the experiences of non-European, diasporic communities in the 'first world,' the use of a dialogic model allows him to show how the diasporic identity is shaped by, and linked to, cultural and political issues of race, gender, colonization, and power in the 'host country' and the 'homeland.'…”

Transitions to adulthood: self‐governance and disciplining in the making of patient citizens

“…Our dialogical approach (Aveling et al . , Renedo et al . ) helped us pay attention to the contextuality of language (Linell , Marková ) to move beyond speech/text as abstract reified forms (e.g.…”

“…We focused on how 'things said' made certain subject positions available and produced certain kinds of subjects at different points of the interview (Bacchi and Goodwin 2016: 116). Our dialogical approach (Aveling et al 2015 helped us pay attention to the contextuality of language (Linell 2009, Markov a 2003 to move beyond speech/text as abstract reified forms (e.g. morphemes, syntactical structure) independent from social relationships and the outside world.…”

“…how one utterance qualified a preceding one, by for instance, investing it with new meaning, reformulating it or denying it). We also examined utterances in relation to the wider context of the research and young people's lives to understand the possible social origin of the dialogues refracted through interview talk (Aveling et al 2015)how meanings were articulated through different voicesand examine the social 'genealogy' (Bacchi and Goodwin 2016: 116) of the subject positions taken by participants. After rounds of grounded analysis we identified the theme of taking responsibility for oneself.…”