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Annotated Bibliography

Student's Name

Institutional Affiliation

Course Number and Name

Professor's Name

Assignment Due Date

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Annotated Bibliography

Jacobs, K. (2006). Discourse analysis and its utility for urban policy research. Urban policy and

research, 24(1), 39-52.

Jacobs (2006) depicts how academics have used discourse analysis to understand

the urban policy implementation process. Based on the study, discourse analysis (DA) is

applied in urban policy and other fields for various reasons. Firstly, to acknowledge that

research based on decision-making can be myopic, and secondly, it makes researchers

recognize the role of language in the policy arena (Jacobs, 2006). In addition, based on

Jacobs's (2006) research, discourse analysis is being influenced by cultural geographers

who employs the use of spatial phenomena in various fields such as art and literature.

Jacobs (2006) further depicts different approaches of urban policy that have utilized DA,

including DA informed by political economy and Foucauldian-inspired analysis. DA

informed by political economy in conformance to Fairclough's approach employs various

aspects, including discursive analysis, text analysis, and social practice (Jacobs, 2006).

Foucauldian-inspired analysis shows that discourses may involve complex competing

ideas and values. Researchers are concerned with identifying how the conflicts associated

with discourses reflect the meaning related to power (Jacobs, 2006).

Jacobs's (2006) research further outlines the criticisms of discourse analysis.

Firstly, DA is perceived to have limited utility in a practical context. Secondly, the

method has been accused of having biases and distortion and also, the method is

associated with having manifold interpretations based on what "discourse" entails

(Jacobs, 2006). The future possibilities of DA in urban policy research are that as a

methodological tool, it will provide considerable insights within urban policy, such as
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examining certain words that are highly used in the policy discourse, especially by the

policymakers (Jacobs, 2006). Jacobs's (2006) research further shows that the

developments in recent years are intensified by technological use in urban policymaking.

As a result, Jacobs (2006) illustrates that DA potentially can help understand these

developments more appropriately. Therefore, Jacobs (2006) shows that DA offers

researchers tools for interpreting urban policy more insightful and informed.

Harper, D. J. (1995). Discourse analysis and 'mental health'. Journal of Mental Health, 4(4), 347-

358.

Harper (1995) uses discourse analysis in analyzing work of clinical relevance.

Harper's (1995) research aims to illustrate the discourse analysis using a social

constructionist theoretical framework and practical deconstructionist political standpoint

to examine mental health better. Based on the aspect of social constructionism, Harper

(1995) suggests the framework is associated with several assumptions, which include that

the theory's work is considered to relate to cultural and social aspects, and knowledge is

historically viewed. Social constructivism and positivistic psychology differ in various

ways. Firstly, the framework is anti-essentialist as it does not consider some

psychological essences such as emotions, cognitions and personality (Harper, 1995).

Secondly, the framework is anti-realistic. The benefits associated with social

constructivism is that it enhances human diversity representation, and the framework is

anti-oppressive to discourse analysis. Traditional research in the mental health field

represented people as irrational and pathological (Harper, 1995). The research further

shows that it is vital for academic researchers to engage practically with these issues

through approaches such as practical deconstruction. Harper's (1995) research hypothesis

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the need for discourse analysis in mental health practitioners and researchers. The study

shows that DA in practices such as psychotherapy fosters exploration of process. In

addition, DA bridges the individual-social divide and diagnoses everyday practices

(Harper 1995). Harper's (1955) study further shows that mental health services need to

diversify. Finally, Harper's (1995) research shows that using theories and methods such

as social constructivism theory, a discourse analytic work, leads to a reconceptualization

of clinical problems.

Hajer, M., & Versteeg, W. (2005). A decade of discourse analysis of environmental politics:

Achievements, challenges, perspectives. Journal of environmental policy &

planning, 7(3), 175-184.

Hajerand and Verteeg's (2005) research assess discourse analysis contributions and their

correlation to environmental politics. The research defines discourse analysis as the study

of language in use. Hajerand and Verteeg (2005) suggest that the basic assumption of DA

is that language is deeply considered to shape individuals' views of the reality and world.

In addition, the researchers further outline that the study of discourse makes individuals

perceive how various actors can positively get involved in defining a problem. As a

result, Hajerand and Verteeg (2005) suggest that this is why discourse analysis is used in

mental politics and policy. Further, DA is vital for answering the 'how' questions and

explains mechanisms in which policy is or is not implemented. In environmental politics,

DA is associated with various contributions. Firstly, Hajerand and Verteeg (2005) show

that DA lies in nature appreciation as a contested notion, thus making nature an

essentially negotiable concept. For instance, discourse analysts have positively depicted

how natural resources discourse is imposed on environmental politics (Hajerand &

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Verteeg (2005). Another contribution of DA is that it can delimit some policy options,

and to policy outcomes, it can serve as precursors, including shaping what can or cannot

be thought. DA is also used in cultural politics to address biases and practices. Hajerand

and Verteeg's (2005) research further shows that DA is used to study environmental

politics by applying Foucault's concert of governmentality. The article outlines some of

the challenges associated with DA, such as discourse analysts are required to identify

political sites and analyze the dynamics of politics. Therefore, Hajerand and Verteeg

(2005) illustrate that DA is highly concerned with situational logics to study "language-

in-use".
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References

Hajer, M., & Versteeg, W. (2005). A decade of discourse analysis of environmental politics:

Achievements, challenges, perspectives. Journal of environmental policy &

planning, 7(3), 175-184.

Harper, D. J. (1995). Discourse analysis and 'mental health'. Journal of Mental Health, 4(4), 347-

358.

Jacobs, K. (2006). Discourse analysis and its utility for urban policy research. Urban policy and

research, 24(1), 39-52.