Cross-platform digital ethnography: Ethical, methodological, and pedagogical insights

• Maha Sayer AlThiyab ^[2] ; Kate Borthwick ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Southampton

     University of Southampton

     GB.ENG.M4.24UJ, Reino Unido

     
  2. [2] English Language Institute, University of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• Localización: EuroCALL 2025. Advancing CALL: New research agendas / Yazdan Choubsaz (dir. congr.), Paz Díez Arcón (dir. congr.), Ana Gimeno Sanz (dir. congr.), 2025, ISBN 978-84-1396-326-6, págs. 1-9
• Idioma: inglés
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  • Texto Completo Libro
• Resumen

  • Cross-platform digital ethnography (DE) offers powerful opportunities for Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) research and presents complex ethical challenges that require adaptive methodologies. This paper proposes a relational ethics framework for language-focused research in multilingual, multi-platform environments. Grounded in an interpretive ethnographic study of English-Medium Instruction (EMI) academics in Saudi Arabia, it examines how conventional ethical protocols—designed largely for single-platform contexts—struggle to address the realities of dispersed digital identities, diverse linguistic repertoires, and platform-specific privacy risks. The study integrates participant-driven digital observation, semi-structured interviews, and thematic analysis, guided by Bucholtz and Hall’s (2005) sociolinguistic principles. Three key ethical tensions emerged: securing informed consent when identity is fragmented across platforms, maintaining contextual integrity without oversimplifying complex linguistic practices, and preserving anonymity without erasing cultural specificity. To address these challenges, a reflexive, adaptive approach grounded in relational ethics is advanced. It emphasises iterative consent procedures, platform-specific risk assessment, and interpretive accountability. This framework offers CALL researchers a transferable model for designing ethically sound, contextually rich investigations of language, identity, and practice across today’s intricate digital landscapes.