Discourse Analysis of the Documentary Method as "Key" to Self-Referential Communication Systems? Theoretic-Methodological Basics and Empirical Vignettes

Authors

  • Gian-Claudio Gentile ETH Zürich

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17169/fqs-11.3.1562

Keywords:

epistemology, constructivism, methodology, systems theory, LUHMANN, documentary method, group discussion, first and second order observation, formulative and reflective interpretation, comparative analysis, empirical data, corporate social responsibility

Abstract

Niklas LUHMANN is well known for his deliberate departure from the classical focus on studying individual actions and directing attention on the actors' relatedness through so called (autopoietic) communication systems. In contrast to the gain of a new perspective of observation his focus on autopoietic systems is simultaneously its biggest methodological obstacle for the use in social and management sciences. The present contribution considers the above shift on a theoretical level and with a specific qualitative method. It argues for a deeper understanding of systemic sense making and its enactment in a systematic and comprehensible way. Central to this approach is its focus on groups. Using group discussions as the method of data collection, and the "documentary method" by Ralf BOHNSACK (2003) as a method of data analysis, the article describes a methodologically grounded way to record the self-referential systems proposed by LUHMANN's system theory. The theoretical considerations of the paper are illustrated by empirical vignettes derived from a research project conducted in Switzerland concerning the social responsibility of business. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs1003156

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Author Biography

Gian-Claudio Gentile, ETH Zürich

Dr. sc. ETH Gian-Claudio GENTILE; Post-Doktorand am Lehrstuhl für Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie von Prof. Dr. phil. Dipl.-Psych. Theo WEHNER an der ETH Zürich. Studium der Soziologie, Betriebswirtschaft und Sozialpsychologie an der Universität Zürich (Diplom 2004). Seit April 2005 wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter an der ETH Zürich. Abgeschlossene Promotion (Dez. 2009) zum Thema: "Corporate Volunteering als Ausdruck gesellschaftlicher Verantwortung durch Unternehmen". Forschungsschwerpunkte: Corporate Volunteering, Corporate Citizenship, Corporate Social Responsibility, Organisationsentwicklung, Organisationstheorie und qualitative Forschungsmethoden in den Managementwissenschaften (z.B. Expert/innengespräche; narrative Interviews; Gruppendiskussionen).

Published

2010-09-30

How to Cite

Gentile, G.-C. (2010). Discourse Analysis of the Documentary Method as "Key" to Self-Referential Communication Systems? Theoretic-Methodological Basics and Empirical Vignettes. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 11(3). https://doi.org/10.17169/fqs-11.3.1562