Is it even possible to combine discourse and frame in the same analysis? What is the relationship between frame and discourse? Is one methodological and analytical approach better than the other depending on what empirical material is used or what kind of research questions asked?
The discourse analysis has differents schools and approaches, so the frame analysis is a discourse analysis method. There are other methods for to develop a discourse analysis.
it strongly depends on your research question and your methodology (epistemology and ontology). Frames (analysis) are often used in qualitative content analysis which are interested in the construction of problems, the proposed solution (in the frame) and the effect of frames on public opinions (see the seminal work by Entman, Robert M. 1993. “Framing: Toward Clarification of a Fractured Paradigm.” Journal of
Communication 43 (4): 51–58 and a more recent article by Hänggli, Regula, and Hanspeter Kriesi. 2012. “Frame Construction and Frame Promotion (Strategic
Framing Choices).” American Behavioral Scientist 56 (3): 260–278.) The meaning of frames, so the assumption, can be reconstructed intersubjectively (or even objectively).
Discourse analysis (DA) has often a strong theoretical background of acting=speaking, social construction of reality via knowledge production, relevance of power and the relevance of latent meaning in statements. I would say more or less every DA-approach refers to work either by Ernesto Laclau or Michel Foucault (see classic CDA-approach by Fairclough, Isabela/Fairclough, Norman 2012: Political Discourse Analysis. A Method for Advanced Students, London: Routledge or Laclau, Ernesto; Mouffe, Chantal (1985): Hegemony and Socialist Strategy. London: Verso.). A relatively new approach studying discourses is the approach by Reiner Keller (see Keller, Reiner (2011): The Sociology of Knowledge Approach to Discourse (SKAD), in: Human Studies 34 (1), 43-65.). Depending on your interest, your material and research question, you can decide which approach is suitable...
I hope, these references and brief explanations are helpful.
Good luck!
I would say that framing analysis (FA) is fundamentally a type of discourse analysis (DA) - it is after all an analysis of one's (or several) discourse. It is an analysis that is intended to bring to the fore the manner in which the communicator of a message uses discursive key elements in order to frame a certain topic/experience/idea in a certain manner so the recipients of the communication will view it in that manner.
As mentioned above by other before me, DA is an umbrella term for a whole gamut of analytical approaches, all of which share the common denominator of analyszing discourse. Hence, FA is compatible with some but not with other types of DA.
Understand your research question well, and you should be able to identify where and how the two literatures - that of FA and that of DA - may be put to use together for your research.
Best of luck.
You can read Lasse Lindekilde's chapter Discourse and Frame Analysis which deals with your question. To briefly summarize for you, Lindekilde says, frame analysis is a particular causal-oriented and focused version of discourse analysis. You can combine both, by doing in-depth discourse analysis of one exemplar text and then using it as starting point for larger frame analysis. Hope this helps.
Discourse Analysis is a broader methodological approach within which Frame analysis can operate. However, your texts, context and research questions will determine the most appropriate analytical framework for your research. For instance, Frame analysis can be more apt for studies on immigrants, terrorism etc talking about how such issues are addressed at the international scene.
I was just searching about the relation between discourse and framing analysis, It seems nobody thinks about it. It would be interesting and analytically useful to combine them. I will combine framing theoretical approch( I mean I accept that all human see and interpret and act according to their social frames) and Lacanian discourse analysis for my master thesis
Further to Jacob Stein's answer, I used frame analysis as one of a few approaches to discouse analysis in my PhD and found it useful to think of it as a 'frame of reference' to interpret the discourse in a particular interaction. I found Tannen & Wallet's paper on interactive frames and knowledge schemas in interaction, in Deborah Tannen's (ed) 'Framing in discourse' (1993), very useful.
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