Representing Reality: Discourse, Rhetoric and Social Construction

Abstract

How is reality manufactured? The idea of social construction has become a commonplace of much social research, yet precisely what is constructed, and how, and even what constructionism means, is often left murky or taken for granted. Potter offers a . . . tour of the central themes raised by these questions. "Representing Reality" provides an overview of the different traditions in constructionist thought. Potter provides an integrated account, both showing how descriptions are made factual by the use of specific procedures and offering a helpful guide for future research on these issues. The points are illustrated throughout with varied and engaging examples taken from newspaper stories, relationship counselling sessions, accounts of the paranormal, social workers' assessments of violent parents, informal talk between programme makers, political arguments and everyday conversations.