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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

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

| University of Calgary
| University of Calgary

Some study abroad (SA) researchers use Facebook as a tool to reach participants or as the site or context of research. In Dressler and Dressler (2016), 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.

Keywords: Facebook, methodology, ethics
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
Published online: 28 February 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/sar.17017.dre
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