WHY PSYCHOLOGISTS SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN FACTS

This paper argues the case that factual discourse be considered a topic for psychological investigaction. A range of theoretical arguments open up the possibility of studying factual discourse; however, it is its role in performing actions and managing the 'dilemma of stake' which makes this area of study particularly interesting. Research on factual accounts will need to focus on two closely connected themes: action orientation(how factual accounts are designed to perform particular actions); and epistemological orientations (how factual accounts are designed to accomplish their factual status). Two procedures of fact construction are described, focusing on category entitlements and interest management.