Investigating spatial transformation processes: an ethnographic discourse analysis in disadvantaged neighbourhoods

Journal article | Zeitschriftenartikel

This contribution focuses on the question of how spatial transformation processes, or to be more concrete, the social reconstruction of places can be methodologically investigated. On the basis of a micro-perspective, I will argue that it is communicative action that plays a crucial role in spatial transformation processes. Taking this into account, the main question is how the structures and dynamics of space-related communicative action in actor constellations as well as in discourses can be empirically explored. Such a dynamic and broad object of research in methodological terms requires a complex research design, and I suggest that it is an "ethnographic discourse analysis" which can meet these requirements. In the following, I will start with basic theoretical considerations, to then outline the research question of a project that, by the example of ‘urban pioneers’, investigates bottom-up initiatives aiming to achieve more quality of life in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. First of all, I will describe the significant properties of the selected neighbourhoods of Berlin-Moabit and Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg in Germany as well as the characteristics of the urban actors under analysis. Subsequently, I will explain the way in which (focused) ethnography and (the sociology of knowledge approach to) discourse analysis were combined, particularly how the methods involved – such as the problem-centred interview, ego-centred network analysis, participant observation as well as discourse analytical procedures – were applied and how the collected data were analysed. The contribution concludes with the presentation of selected results and a discussion on how far the methodological proceeding proved to be adequate in order to investigate spatial transformation processes on a "microscopic level".

Angaben zum Objekt

• Weitere Titel: Über die Untersuchung räumlicher Transformationsprozesse: eine ethnographische Diskursanalyse in benachteiligten Stadtvierteln
• ISSN: 0172-6404
• Umfang: Seite(n): 235-256
• Sprache: Englisch
• Anmerkungen: Status: Veröffentlichungsversion; begutachtet (peer reviewed)

Verweise und Beziehungen

• Erschienen in: Historical Social Research, 39(2)

Klassifikation und Themen

• Thema: Sozialwissenschaften, Soziologie ; Soziologie, Anthropologie ; Forschungsarten der Sozialforschung ; Siedlungssoziologie, Stadtsoziologie ; Bundesrepublik Deutschland ; Nachbarschaft ; Diskursanalyse ; Berlin ; Benachteiligung ; Hamburg ; Ethnographie ; Großstadt ; Stadtteil ; Stadtplanung ; kommunikatives Handeln ; empirisch ; Grundlagenforschung ; empirisch-qualitativ ; Methodenentwicklung

Beteiligte, Orts- und Zeitangaben

• Ereignis: Geistige Schöpfung
• (wer): Christmann, Gabriela B.
• Ereignis: Veröffentlichung
• (wo): Deutschland
• (wann): 2014

Weitere Informationen

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.12759/hsr.39.2014.2.235-256
• URN: urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-384903
• Rechteinformation: GESIS - Leibniz-Institut für Sozialwissenschaften. Bibliothek Köln
• Letzte Aktualisierung: 21.06.2024, 16:26 MESZ