Epistemic Shifts: Examining Advice-Seeking and Self-Praise in Longitudinal Interviews

• In Event: 31.091 - Fairmont Royal York Roundtable Session Five
  In Roundtable Session: 31.091-6 - Methodological and Conceptual Explorations to Uncover Layered Social Contexts

Abstract

This paper examines epistemic shifts over the course of one year of interviews with “Bailey,” specifically in relation to the interviewer’s tendency to praise Bailey. Initially, Bailey sought the researcher/interviewer’s advice, establishing herself as having a knowledge deficit (K-) and the interviewer/researcher as an expert (K+). The researcher noted epistemic shifts partially demonstrated through Bailey’s self-praise, which established Bailey as knowledgeable and an advisor to others (K+). The researcher noted that Bailey’s K+ self-descriptors contradicted conversation norms, in that individuals typically downgrade their accomplishments and abilities in talk with others. In reexamining the data, the researcher found that Bailey’s self-praise was in response to the interviewer’s talk, as the interviewer actively praised Bailey and Bailey’s teaching practice throughout the data.

Author

• Stephanie Anne Shelton, The University of Alabama