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In:Innovative Qualitative Methodologies in Multilingual Literacy Development Research: Amplifying voices from immigrant, transnational, and refugee communities
Edited by Amanda K. Kibler and Fares J. Karam
[Research Methods in Applied Linguistics 11] 2025
► pp. 1–21

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Chapter 1
Introduction: Innovative paths in researching multilingual literacy development

Rethinking data, theory, and positionality

 | Oregon State University
 | University of Nevada, Reno
Published online: 7 April 2025
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https://doi.org/10.1075/rmal.11.01kib
Abstract
In this introductory chapter to the volume, Innovative Qualitative Methodologies in Multilingual Literacy Development Research: Amplifying Voices from Immigrant, Transnational, and Refugee Communities, we situate the key aims of the collection in the context of conceptual innovations in multilingualism, literacy, and equity. To unlock the full potential of these recent developments, innovative rethinking of methodological approaches is needed to keep pushing the boundaries of our understanding of multilingual literacy development and to further our ethical commitments to humanizing research. We describe selected recent empirical studies in which qualitative literacy researchers have begun to “rethink” data, theory, and positionality in their work before presenting an overview of the contributions in this volume.
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Resituating concepts in multilingual literacy development
  • Resituating equity in multilingual literacy development
  • Resituating research on multilingual literacy development
    • Rethinking data
    • Rethinking theory
      • Rethinking positionality
  • Overview of chapters in the volume
  • References
References (98)
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