Virtual Ethnography: A New Methodology for Literacy and Language Learning Research

초록

The purpose of this article is to explain a relatively new research methodology: virtual ethnography (Hine, 2000). This paper draws on research investigating English-language learners’ literacy and language-learning practices in online communities. With the ever-increasing popularity of virtual communication, we argue that online environments can serve as vital research sites to understand language learners’ literacy and language development. Therefore, questions of methodology relevant to these new contexts need to be considered. In this article, we explain the characteristics of virtual ethnography, highlighting the advantages and challenges it poses based on our experience conducting research in virtual spaces. This article concludes by exploring the implications for future language and literacy research conducted in online spaces.

키워드