A simple demographic question: A discursive negotiation of face when asking the 'race question'

• In Event: Top Four Papers in Language and Social Interaction

Abstract

Employing politeness theory as our framework, we examined how the question of participants’ race is discursively constructed in interviews. The findings emphasize the need for researchers to examine critically the often taken for granted convention of including race as a demographic variable in their work. The discussion highlights the necessity for researchers to discursively construct questions about participants’ race in a way that elicits responses that are both appropriate and meaningful for the research.

Authors

• Laura O'Hara, Ball State University

• Carolyn Shue, Ball State University

• James McKenzie, Ball State University

• David Marini, Ball State University

• Jennifer Flanagan, Ball Memorial Hospital Family Medicine Clinic

• Linda Daniel, BMH Family Medicine Residency Program