astronomy

Margaret Wetherell

Margaret Wetherell is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Margaret Wetherell rather than just read about it. In short: Margaret Wetherell (born 24 November 1954) is a prominent academic in the area of discourse analysis. Career Wetherell worked for 23 years at the Open University, UK from which she retired as Emeritus Professor in 2011.

Key takeaways

Margaret Wetherell belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
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Reproduce the core statement of Margaret Wetherell from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Margaret Wetherell (born 24 November 1954) is a prominent academic in the area of discourse analysis.

Career Wetherell worked for 23 years at the Open University, UK from which she retired as Emeritus Professor in 2011. She then took up a part-time post of Professor in Psychology at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Work Wetherell has promoted a discursive approach to psychology. Her 1987 book, Discourse and Social Psychology: Beyond Attitudes and Behaviour, cowritten with Jonathan Potter, was very influential, particularly in social psychology, though also in other fields (e.g. Wood & Kroger, 2000). While discourse analysis has many different meanings, Wetherell's approach has been quite catholic in line with other anglophone discourse analysts like Gilbert & Mulkay (1984). Wetherell asserts that social actions and routines are formed within our respective social organizations, and that we can not separate a bodies, talk, and text. In 2010/11 she led a collaboration on identity funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

Selected bibliography

Books Wetherell, Margaret; Potter, Jonathan; Stringer, Peter (1984). Social texts and context: literature and social psychology. London Boston: Routledge & Kegan Paul. ISBN 9780710095534. Wetherell, Margaret; Potter, Jonathan (1987). Discourse and social psychology: beyond attitudes and behaviour. London Newbury Park, California: SAGE. ISBN 9780803980563. Wetherell, Margaret; Sapsford, Roger; Still, Arthur; Miell, Dorothy; Stevens, Richard (1998). Theory and social psychology. London Thousand Oaks California: SAGE in association with the Open University. ISBN 9780761958390. Wetherell, Margaret; Miell, Dorothy (1998). Doing social psychology. London Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE in association with the Open University. ISBN 9780761960492. Wetherell, Margaret; Miell, Dorothy; Sapsford, Roger; Still, Arthur; Stevens, Richard (1998). Theory and social psychology. London Thousand Oaks California: SAGE in association with the Open University. ISBN 9780761958390. Wetherell, Margaret; Taylor, Stephanie; Yates, Simeon J. (2001). Discourse theory and practice: a reader. D843 Course: Discourse Analysis. London Thousand Oaks California: SAGE in association with the Open University. ISBN 9780761971566. Wetherell, Margaret; Taylor, Stephanie; Yates, Simeon J. (2001). Discourse as data: a guide for analysis. D843 Course: Discourse Analysis. London Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE in association with the Open University. ISBN 9780761971580. Wetherell, Margaret (2012). Affect and emotion a new social science understanding. Los Angeles London: SAGE. ISBN 9780857028570.

Book chapters Wetherell, Margaret; Still, Arthur (1998), "Realism and relativism", in Wetherell, Margaret; Sapsford, Roger; Still, Arthur; Miell, Dorothy; Stevens, Richard (eds.), Theory and social psychology, London Thousand Oaks California: SAGE in association with the Open University, pp. 99–114, ISBN 9780761958390. Wetherell, Margaret; Still, Arthur (1988), "Discourse analysis and the identification of interpretative repertoires", in Antaki, Charles (ed.), Analysing everyday explanation: a casebook of methods, London Newbury Park, California: SAGE, pp. 168–183, ISBN 9780803981409. Wetherell, Margaret; Edley, Nigel (1998), "Gender practices: steps in the analysis of men and masculinities", in Henwood, Karen; Griffin, Christine; Phoenix, Ann (eds.), Standpoints and differences: essays in the practice of feminist psychology, London Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE, pp. 165–173, ISBN 9780761954446. Wetherell, Margaret (2001), "Editor's introduction, Part one: foundations and building blocks", in Wetherell, Margaret; Taylor, Stephanie; Yates, Simeon J. (eds.), Discourse theory and practice: a reader, D843 Course: Discourse Analysis, London Thousand Oaks California: SAGE in association with the Open University, pp. 9–13, ISBN 9780761971566. Wetherell, Margaret (2001), "Themes in discourse analysis: the case of Diana", in Wetherell, Margaret; Taylor, Stephanie; Yates, Simeon J. (eds.), Discourse theory and practice: a reader, D843 Course: Discourse Analysis, London Thousand Oaks California: SAGE in association with the Open University, pp. 14–28, ISBN 9780761971566. Wetherell, Margaret (2001), "Editor's introduction, Part three: minds, selves and sense making", in Wetherell, Margaret; Taylor, Stephanie; Yates, Simeon J. (eds.), Discourse theory and practice: a reader, D843 Course: Discourse Analysis, London Thousand Oaks California: SAGE in association with the Open University, pp. 186–197, ISBN 9780761971566. Wetherell, Margaret; Potter, Jonathan (2001), "Unfolding discourse analysis", in Wetherell, Margaret; Taylor, Stephanie; Yates, Simeon J. (eds.), Discourse theory and practice: a reader, D843 Course: Discourse Analysis, London Thousand Oaks California: SAGE in association with the Open University, pp. 198–209, ISBN 9780761971566. Wetherell, Margaret (2001), "Debates in discourse research", in Wetherell, Margaret; Taylor, Stephanie; Yates, Simeon J. (eds.), Discourse theory and practice: a reader, D843 Course: Discourse Analysis, London Thousand Oaks California: SAGE in association with the Open University, pp. 380–399, ISBN 9780761971566.

Journal articles Wetherell, Margaret; Potter, Jonathan; Stiven, Hilda (March 1987). "Unequal egalitarianism: a preliminary study of discourses concerning gender and employment opportunities". British Journal of Social Psychology. 26 (1): 59–71. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8309.1987.tb00761.x. Wetherell, Margaret (July 1998). "Positioning and interpretative repertoires: conversation analysis and post-structuralism in dialogue" (PDF). Discourse & Society. 9 (3): 387–412. doi:10.1177/0957926598009003005. S2CID 145411889. Wetherell, Margaret (June 1999). "Beyond binaries". Theory & Psychology. 9 (3): 399–406. doi:10.1177/0959354399093009. S2CID 220400917. Wetherell, Margaret; Edley, Nigel (August 1999). "Negotiating hegemonic masculinity: imaginary positions and psycho-discursive practices" (PDF). Feminism & Psychology. 9 (3): 335–356. doi:10.1177/0959353599009003012. S2CID 145350243.

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Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Margaret Wetherell

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Margaret Wetherell claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Margaret Wetherell before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Margaret Wetherell ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Margaret Wetherell

In research: Margaret Wetherell appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Margaret Wetherell in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Margaret Wetherell is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1954 births, Academics of the Open University, British psychologists, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Margaret Wetherell outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Margaret Wetherell in 20 minutes

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Frequently asked questions

What is Margaret Wetherell in simple terms?

Margaret Wetherell (born 24 November 1954) is a prominent academic in the area of discourse analysis. Career Wetherell worked for 23 years at the Open University, UK from which she retired as Emeritus Professor in 2011.

Why does Margaret Wetherell matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Margaret Wetherell?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Margaret Wetherell.