Edward Elgar Publishing Research Handbook on Social Interaction

The Research Handbook on Social Interaction explores the intricacies of everyday human social exchanges. Contributors demonstrate how social interaction is not an individual affair, but rather a structured process underpinned by shared norms and patterns. In addition, the volume explores how the predictable structures of interaction are embedded in broader cultural frameworks. Including a cutting-edge review of research in conversation analysis and related fields, this Research Handbook offers a close look at the fine-grained organization of social interaction and the analytical richness with which its subtle details can be examined. The book is organized into five parts, each exploring social interaction through a different lens: behavioural resources, contextual resources and constraints, action in sequence, activity types, and patterns that extend beyond single observations. Throughout the volume, the contributors highlight the multimodal nature of social exchanges, shedding light on the intricate ways in which speech, body language, material environment, and social context interact. Providing accessible and in-depth insight into various social phenomena, the Research Handbook on Social Interaction is an essential resource for scholars and students of social sciences, psychology, communication, and linguistics.