Researching the Discursive in Mood Tracking Practices. Empirical Insights and Methodological Reflections in the Context of a "Smart Journaling"-Study

In the past 20 years, much work has been done to extend the methodological repertoire of discourse analysis by engaging practice theoretical positions (FEUSTEL et al., 2014; MACGILCHRIST & VAN HOUT, 2011). Building on this work, we adopt an approach to the discursive as practice and apply it to an empirical undertaking in the context of media educational research. Drawing on an explorative pilot study in which we addressed questions around subjectivation with regard to mood tracking and smart journaling practices, our aim is to discuss and reflect on the method of analysis of discursive practices as suggested by WRANA (2015a, 2015b). We base our discussion on selected findings of our study, presenting two differential figures which illustrate powerful dynamics in the human-technology-constellations. These results serve as starting points for methodological reflections and suggestions for further development of the framework.