Making contact: dilemmas of entitlement in written child contact negotiations

The thesis explores the dilemmas faced by parents and their representatives in conducting child contact negotiations through letters. These institutional letters are explored using discursive analysis to illustrate the ways in which entiltlement to contact claims by the non resident parent and other family members are worked up and resisted. Features of footing are analysed to show how issues of interest and accountability are managed. A discursive psychological approach is used to explore the notion of "understanding" in language and interaction.