Conclusion: Future directions in analysing digital interaction

ABSTRACT

This chapter summarises the empirical chapters, drawing out specific aspects of each chapter, including a distinction between the use of traditional methods to study new technologies and the development of innovative techniques to study evolving communication formats. I show how the studies included exemplify some key challenges in this area of using Conversation Analysis (CA), Membership Categorisation Analysis (MCA) and related microanalysis techniques to understand developing technological social interaction, including the ongoing debate about relevance of context in microanalytic studies of interaction. I conclude by considering the relevance of this research field to the COVID-19 global crisis and the ensuing shift to online interaction for numerous aspects of social and working life. Future directions include more focus on videoconferencing, as well as focus on interactions utilising medical and other app development. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)