Self-representation - Conversational implementation of self-presentationalgoals in research interviews

One way of implementing self-presentational goals in conversation can be te rmed self-representation (SR) that is explicitly referring to attributes, a ctions, or qualities of the self: SR is studied as a form of self-disclosur e. Studying spontaneous SR in natural discourse implies analyzing how the s elf is introduced into talk previously focused on another topic. Descriptiv e analyses of cases from the present corpus focus on describing SR sequence s and explaining them according to the interactional circumstances of their production. Three forms are discussed: (a) elicited SR, where predetermine d questions on the interview agenda lead to more talk about oneself; (b) em ergent SR, which is a response to an unforeseen conversational situation; a nd (c) strategic SR, where self-talk can be attributed to a conversational goal on the part of the narrator. Discussion focuses on the nature of SR as a sensitive topic and related implications of the data for interview metho dology.