Practical criticism of the art of conversation: A methodological critique

If conversation is a practical art, then a discipline that studies conversation should “assume the full burden of the critic. “In an effort to clarify and extend this notion, the present essay offers a tentative account of the methodological requirements of practical criticism, and examines six research studies representing various methodological approaches from that perspective. The critique suggests both the unique contributions of each method and the necessity for intense interaction among methods within the framework of a critical discipline.