An introduction to Inter-utterance Quotation Network Analysis

The present paper proposes a new method for analyzing oral discussion processes. This method is called Inter-utterance Quotation Network Analysis (IQNA) that was developed with the concept of inter-textuality and the methods of network analysis. Using IQNA, researchers can obtain visualized representations of the dynamics of discussion and general indices for measurement of qualities of discussion. As an introduction to IQNA, the author shows two applications of the method to classroom discourse. The first one offers an index measuring to what extent students have the initiative in a classroom discussion. The second one demonstrates how IQNA explicates developmental process of a discussion topic. In the last part of the paper, merits and limitations of IQNA are discussed