Written Communication Apr 2020

Visual Embodied Actions in Interview-Based Writing Research: A Methodological Argument for Video

Andrea R. Olinger University of Louisville

Abstract

People communicate through language as well as visual embodied actions like gestures, yet audio remains the default recording technology in interview-based writing research. Given that texts and writing processes are understood to involve semiotic resources beyond language, interview talk should receive similar treatment. In this article, I synthesize research that examines how visual embodied actions reveal and construct embodied knowledge and stance, and I apply these lenses to my own study, showing how visual embodied actions are essential to understanding three writers’ experiences with particular writing styles. I conclude by discussing the benefits of videorecording for writing research, offering guidance on how video can help researchers explore the interview as a social practice, and suggesting ways to design the consent process with transparency and democratic practice in mind. Ultimately, this article serves as a guide for writing researchers who wish to challenge the audio default when conducting interviews.

Journal
Written Communication
Published
2020-04-01
DOI
10.1177/0741088319898864
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Open Access
Closed
Topics
qualitative research multimodality
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Citation Context

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