Cover not available

Article published In: Language learning and interactional experiences in Study Abroad settings
Edited by M. Rafael Salaberry, Kate White and Alfred Rue Burch
[Study Abroad Research in Second Language Acquisition and International Education 4:1] 2019
► pp. 126–144

Get fulltext from our e-platform
JBE logo with link
PDF logo with download linkDownload PDF
authorization required

The methodological affordances and challenges of using Facebook to research study abroad

 | University of Calgary
 | University of Calgary
Published online: 28 February 2019
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/sar.17017.dre
Abstract
Some study abroad (SA) researchers use Facebook as a tool to reach participants or as the site or context of research. In Dressler, R., & Dressler, A. (2016). Linguistic identity positioning in Facebook posts during second language study abroad: One teen’s language use, experience, and awareness. Canadian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 21, 22–43.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar, we examined the linguistic identity positioning of one sojourner in Facebook posts over two sojourns. In this paper, we determine the methodological affordances and challenges of the social media site as both a tool and context of research. We conclude that for the original study, using Facebook enabled us to download large amounts of observational data and study the identity positioning over time. Throughout the data collection, analysis, and writing, we encountered challenges regarding ownership of data, the dynamic nature of Facebook over the two time periods of the study, the use of photographs, and our focus on the textual aspects of posting. From this analysis, we provide recommendations for the use of Facebook in SA research moving forward.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Researching Facebook use
    • 2.1Facebook as research tool
    • 2.2Facebook as research context
    • 2.3Theoretical frameworks for researching study abroad
    • 2.4Ethics and logistics of using Facebook
  • 3.Methodology
  • 4.Findings
    • 4.1Data collection
    • 4.2Data analysis
    • 4.3Writing
  • 5.Discussion
    • 5.1Study abroad Facebook research guidelines
    • 5.2Limitations
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
References (39)
References
Akkaya, A. (2002). Devotion and friendship through Facebook : An ethnographic approach to language, community, and identity performances of young Turkish-American women. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Southern Illinois University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Back, M. (2013). Using Facebook data to analyze learner interaction during study abroad. Foreign Language Annals, 46(3), 377–401. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Baker, S. (2013). Conceptualising the use of Facebook in ethnographic research: As tool, as data and as context. Ethnography and Education, 8(2), 131–145. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Baltar, F., & Brunet, I. (2012). Social research 2.0: Virtual snowball sampling method using Facebook. Internet Research, 22(1), 57–74. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bond, E., & Agnew, S. (2016). Towards an innovative inclusion: Using digital methods with young people. In H. Snee, C. Hine, Y. Morey, S. Roberts, & H. Watson (Eds.), Digital methods for social science (pp. 190–205). London: Palgrave Macmillan.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Brooks, R., & Waters, J. (2010). Social networks and educational mobility: The experiences of UK students. Globalisation, Societies and Education, 8(1), 143–157. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
DeAndrea, D. C., Shaw, A. S., & Levine, T. R. (2010). Online language: The role of culture in self-expression and self-construal on Facebook. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 29(4), 425–442. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Di Capua, I. (2012). A literature review of research on Facebook use. The Open Communication Journal, 6(1), 37–42. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Dressler, R., & Dressler, A. (2016). Linguistic identity positioning in Facebook posts during second language study abroad: One teen’s language use, experience, and awareness. Canadian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 21, 22–43.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Duggan, M., & Smith, A. (2013). Social media update 2013. Retrieved from <[URL]>
Godwin-Jones, R. (2016). Integrating technology into study abroad. Language Learning & Technology, 20(1), 1–20.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Greischel, H., Noack, P., & Neyer, F. J. (2016). Sailing uncharted waters: Adolescent personality development and social relationship experiences during a year abroad. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 45(11), 2307–2320. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Harré, R., & van Langenhove, L. (1991). Varieties of positioning. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, 21(4), 393–407. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hetz, P. R., Dawson, C. L., & Cullen, T. A. (2016). Social media use and the Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) while studying abroad. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 15231, 259–272.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hewson, C. (2016). Ethical issues in digital methods research. In H. Snee, C. Hine, Y. Morey, S. Roberts, & H. Watson (Eds.), Digital methods for social science (pp. 206–221). London: Palgrave Macmillan.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kelly-Holmes, H. (2015). Analyzing language policies in new media. In F. M. Hult & D. Cassels Johnson (Eds.), Research methods in language policy and planning (pp. 130–139). Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kosinski, M., Bachrach, Y., Kohli, P., Stillwell, D., & Graepel, T. (2014). Manifestations of user personality in website choice and behaviour on online social networks. Machine Learning, 95(3), 357–380. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kosinski, M., Matz, S. C., Gosling, S. D., Popov, V., & Stillwell, D. (2015). Facebook as a research tool for the social sciences. American Psychologist, 70(6), 543–556. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Levine, G. (2014). From performance to multilingual being in foreign language pedagogy: Lessons from L2 students abroad. Critical Multilingualism Studies, 2(1), 74–105.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Markham, A., & Buchanan, E. (2015). Internet research: Ethical concerns. In J. D. Wright (Ed.), The international encyclopedia of social and behavioural sciences (2nd ed., pp. 606–613). Amsterdam: Elsevier. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mikal, J. P., & Grace, K. (2012). Against abstinence-only education abroad. Journal of Studies in International Education, 16(3), 287–306. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mitchell, K. (2012). A social tool: Why and how ESOL students use Facebook. CALICO Journal, 29(3), 471–493. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mitchell, R., Tracy-Ventura, N., & McManus, K. (Eds.). (2015). Social interaction, identity and language learning during residence abroad. Paris: European Second Language Association Monographs Series.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Norton, B., & Toohey, K. (2011). Identity, language learning, and social change. Language Teaching, 44(4), 412–446. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Park, N., Kee, K. F., & Valenzuela, S. (2009). Being immersed in social networking environment. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 12(6), 729–733. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Pavlenko, A. (2007). Autobiographic narratives as data in applied linguistics. Applied Linguistics, 28(2), 163–188. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Raacke, J., & Bonds-Raacke, J. (2008). MySpace and Facebook: Applying the uses and gratifications theory to exploring friend-networking sites. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 11(2), 169–174. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Rettberg, J. W. (2014). Blogging (2nd ed.). Malden, MA: Polity Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Riley, J. (2013). Bilinguals’ use of English and Spanish digitalk on Facebook status updates. International Journal of English Linguistics, 3(1). Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Sandel, T. L. (2014). “Oh, I’m here!:” Social media’s impact on the cross-cultural adaptation of students studying abroad. Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, 43(1), 1–29. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Schwab, A. K., & Greitemeyer, T. (2015). The world’s biggest salad bowl: Facebook connecting cultures. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 45(4), 243–252. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Stirling, E. (2016). “I’m always on Facebook!:” Exploring Facebook as a mainstream research tool and ethnographic site. In H. Snee, C. Hine, Y. Morey, S. Roberts, & H. Watson (Eds.), Digital methods for social science (pp. 51–70). London: Palgrave Macmillan.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2017). Doing social media research. In R. Coe, M. Waring, L. V. Hedges, & J. Arthur (Eds.), Research methods and methodologies in education (pp. 207–214). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Teng, S., Khong, K. W., Chong, A. Y. L., & Lin, B. (2017). Persuasive electronic word-of-mouth messages in social media. Journal of Computer Information Systems, 57(1), 76–88. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Trentman, E. (2013). Imagined communities and language learning during study abroad: Arabic learners in Egypt. Foreign Language Annals, 46(4), 545–564. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Venditti, S., Piredda, F., & Mattana, W. (2017). Micronarratives as the form of contemporary communication. The Design Journal, 69251, S273–S282. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Warrell, J., & Jacobsen, M. (2014). Internet research ethics and the policy gap for ethical practice in online research settings. Canadian Journal of Higher Education, 44(1), 22–37.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Zhuravleva, A., de Bot, K., & Hilton, N. H. (2016). Using social media to measure language use. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 37(6), 601–614. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cited by (3)

Cited by three other publications

Petters, Janet Sunday, Valentine Joseph Owan, Ovat Egbe Okpa, Delight Omoji Idika, Richard Ayuh Ojini, Blessing Agbo Ntamu, Augustine Igwe Robert, Mercy Valentine Owan, Stella Asu-Okang & Victor Eyo Essien
2024. Predicting users’ behavior: Gender and age as interactive antecedents of students’ Facebook use for research data collection. Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies 14:1 ► pp. e202406 ff. DOI logo
Dressler, Roswita, Katherine Crossman & Colleen Kawalilak
2023. Pre-Service Teachers’ Learning about Language Learning and Teaching: A Nexus Analysis of Study Abroad Blogging. Journal of Language, Identity & Education 22:6 ► pp. 606 ff. DOI logo
Durbidge, Levi
2022. Sojourners Online: Social Media and Online Communication as a Data Source in Study Abroad Research. In Designing Second Language Study Abroad Research, ► pp. 229 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 1 december 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue