Solidarity in giving

Abstract Quantitative approaches are increasingly applied in traditionally qualitative linguistic subdisciplines, such as discourse analysis in German studies. Building on Angermüller’s definition of German discourse analysis, which integrates hermeneutics, pragmatics, and structuralism, and aligning with Foucault’s discourse theory, this paper explores the challenges and synergies of combining quantitative and qualitative methods. We examine discourses on organ donation in Germany using temporal word embeddings and topic modeling alongside qualitative analysis to detect trends and discursive shifts. The study highlights themes of individual autonomy and societal solidarity, with proponents advocating legal obligations to enhance democratic legitimacy and opponents emphasizing bodily autonomy while critiquing enforced solidarity. Analyzing linguistic strategies in German media, Bundestag debates and publications of interest groups since 1990, we offer insights into the evolving public discourse on organ donation. The combination of quantitative tools and qualitative analyses demonstrates the complementarity of both approaches in understanding discourse.