Possible investigations:

Gender differences in conflict resolution:

For this I would look at mixed gender parliamentary debates, and transcribe them and look at the different techniques used to by genders to resolve conflict and argument. I thought it would be interesting to see how people in power –namely prime ministers such as David Cameron, Tony Blair compared with Margaret thatcher who had quite a lot of controversy and conflict in her time.

I also thought maybe I could look at big brother, as although this is on TV and made to be watched (which may ruin the validity) it isn’t filmed and is very spontaneous, which is what would make the data genuine and not distorted which maybe a problem in other samples e.g. the apprentice

I would then study the transcripts and see what techniques they use to resolve/how they resolve and what their response is to conflict.

This may pose a problem, with lack of data sources and lack of comparability between my two data sources.

Male and female use of taboo language in conflict:

For this area of study I could again look at big brother as this is spontaneous, i could alsp look at shows such as TOWIe which are "unscripted lines but in a structured way" so this would allow me to see how big brother and TOWIE compare as being made of TV but presented in different ways, but with the only way is Essex having some kind of structure and big brother just being an observation shown on TV.

Interview techniques of male and female interviewers:

To study this I could look at different interview shows and see how male and female interviewers ask questions or interact with the guest differently. hows such as Jonathon Ross, Ellen Degeneres, Graham Norton and Oprah could be studies and transcribed. I could also look deeper into how they interact with different gendered guests and same sex guests and more than one guest etc.

ANALYSIS OF TRANSCRIPT:

In the transcript from the Apprentice, it is clear that Alan Sugar has the instrumental power over the rest of the people in the room. Almost every time anyone else speaks either he interrupts or someone else in the room does. This is not very surprising in this setting, as in the boardroom type situation it is a constant struggle for power and who gets the floor and is able to share their views, which when Alan sugar interrupts this is probably him trying to get his views across, almost forcing them upon the other people. The most interesting thing I found in this piece, was that he interrupted Nick, who (from watching the show myself) is normally seen by Sugar as a right hand man, reporting back to him and someone whose views he appreciates and values, but by interrupting him when he is talking to Claire he may seriously change the dynamic of their relationship, and lower Nicks status, but in this way interrupting does not increase his, it lowers it as he as compromised his face needs -to be liked (not that he seems to be worried about this) and Nicks face need -not to be imposed upon. The presence of Claire in this situation seems to put a strain on Alan Sugars temper when she asks can she “please” ask something, it doesn’t really allow him to say no, and then she starts to talk about feelings "a vulnerable position", which is the female approach as stated by Tannen that women use feelings to build relationships whereas men use communication of information to build a conversation with someone. When he kicks her out the boardroom, he may have felt threatened by her being there and seen her as competition for the power over the group and got rid of her, therefore displaying his instrumental power and his ability to do so, almost showing her who’s really in charge, when in fact he is avoiding conflict and getting round having an actual discussion with a verbal power struggle by using actions. It’s very interesting to see how the different genders go about conflict, and how they act within a power struggle in this format.

Simon: I was the project manager i lost money (.) but the reason i lost money and i could have made a fortune in that shopping center this /morning
Claire:                                                                  /yeah
Simon: if /we'd started this morning because /I'm good at-
Alan:      /could've yeah could've/                  /could've/ could've yeah could've should've would've yeah but you didn't (.) right
Simon: no sir Alan i /didn't
Alan:                       /no you didn't/ yeah (4) i think I've heard enough to make a very difficult decision here today
Claire: Sir Alan may i say one more thing please
Alan: (3) if you insist
Claire: I think in this whole competition (.) if you sit back and remain quiet and under the radar (.) people assume they're safe (.) and I've been bold and i know I'm vocal and that puts me/
Alan:                                                                                                                                /oh you have been bold alright/ (.) don't worry about that/
Claire:               /and in puts me in a vunbel-/ in a vulnerable position I'm sorry I'm sat here/
Nick: trouble is you know you never back off even when your calling/
Alan:                                                                                                     /you know what ill tell you what I'm going to do with you (.) ill tell you what I'm going to do with you I'm getting sick and tired of you denying all this (.) you know (2) I'm sick of looking at you at the moment get out that door (3) get back to the bloody house (.) okay (.) get back to the house (.) yeah because you're going to be the next team leader I'm sick of looking at you at the moment (.) get out that door (.) and get back to the house [waits for her to leave] Simon if i asked you to build me a wall (.) you'd build me a wall I'm pretty sure of it if i asked you to dig me a trench (.) i think you'd dig me a trench (.) and I'm not that sure (2) that if i gave you my (.) investment portfolio you'd be able to run that very well (.) I'm sorry my friend i think (.) you're a bit out your depth here (.) with regret (.) you're fired
Simon: thank you for a wonderful opportunity (2) thank you sir Alan (.) goodbye