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Part of
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. 172–183

Chapter 9
Commentary: Advancing theory through multilingual literacy qualitative research

 | University College London
This commentary on Part 2 of Innovative Qualitative Methodologies in Multilingual Literacy Development Research: Amplifying Voices from Immigrant, Transnational, and Refugee Communities focuses upon some of the ways in which qualitative literacy researchers have begun to rethink the role of theory in their research methodologies. Insights from the chapters are presented in light of some of the author’s own work on innovating and theorizing methods and Applied Linguistics research, focusing on the affordances and challenges of qualitative methodological approaches and their contributions to a more equitable and ethical research landscape
Keywords: qualitative, literacy, multilingual, methodology, theory
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Affordances of qualitative approaches
  • Rethinking theory and methodology
  • Innovations in rethinking theory
  • Connected themes between chapters
  • Equity in literacy research
  • Ethical considerations and challenges
  • Looking backward and forward
  • Conclusion
  • References
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References (7)
References
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