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Chapter 12. Critical collaborative autoethnography

  • M. Sidury Christiansen and Zhongfeng Tian
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Innovative Qualitative Methodologies in Multilingual Literacy Development Research
This chapter is in the book Innovative Qualitative Methodologies in Multilingual Literacy Development Research

Abstract

This chapter explores the transformative potential that applying critical collaborative autoethnography can have in the path towards decolonizing academic writing, a particular type of literacy practice. Traditional research methodologies, both quantitative and qualitative, are critiqued for marginalizing non-Western perspectives. We propose a paradigm shift towards decolonizing methodologies, foregrounding our own positionality as multilingual researchers navigating the complexities of academic publishing. We re-introduce the concept of critical friend as a unique method for conducting autoethnographies. Thus, we advocate the use of critical collaborative autoethnography to foster collective exploration of research subjectivity and power-sharing among researcher-participants. This approach moves us beyond simply acknowledging positionality to embracing of relationality in research, advocating for more collaborative inclusive research and multilingual literacy practices in academia.

Abstract

This chapter explores the transformative potential that applying critical collaborative autoethnography can have in the path towards decolonizing academic writing, a particular type of literacy practice. Traditional research methodologies, both quantitative and qualitative, are critiqued for marginalizing non-Western perspectives. We propose a paradigm shift towards decolonizing methodologies, foregrounding our own positionality as multilingual researchers navigating the complexities of academic publishing. We re-introduce the concept of critical friend as a unique method for conducting autoethnographies. Thus, we advocate the use of critical collaborative autoethnography to foster collective exploration of research subjectivity and power-sharing among researcher-participants. This approach moves us beyond simply acknowledging positionality to embracing of relationality in research, advocating for more collaborative inclusive research and multilingual literacy practices in academia.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. List of contributors vii
  4. Chapter 1. Introduction: Innovative paths in researching multilingual literacy development 1
  5. Part 1. Challenges and affordances of qualitative methodological approaches
  6. Chapter 2. Rethinking qualitative meta-syntheses in literacy studies 24
  7. Chapter 3. An ethnetnography of (non)belonging 45
  8. Chapter 4. Communicating selves 67
  9. Chapter 5. Commentary: The instability of ‘data’ in a postdigital era 92
  10. Part 2. Challenges and affordances of qualitative methodological approaches
  11. Chapter 6. Korean American children’s voices in translanguaging Play-Based Family Literacy (PBFL) through the  suda  ( 수다 ) approach 102
  12. Chapter 7. Bridging language and STEM 125
  13. Chapter 8. Families’ literacies of (in)visibilty 149
  14. Chapter 9. Commentary: Advancing theory through multilingual literacy qualitative research 171
  15. Part 3. Interrogating research practices
  16. Chapter 10. Embodied reflexivity and researching the literacy practices of an adolescent multilingual refugee who is d/Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing 184
  17. Chapter 11. Exploring the ‘void’ of silent/ced knowledge and expertise of multilingual learners 206
  18. Chapter 12. Critical collaborative autoethnography 232
  19. Chapter 13. Commentary: Challenging extractive epistemologies through positionalities of relation and community accountability 253
  20. Chapter 14. Conclusion: Innovative research on multilingual literacy development 261
  21. Index 265
https://doi.org/10.1075/rmal.11.12chr

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. List of contributors vii
  4. Chapter 1. Introduction: Innovative paths in researching multilingual literacy development 1
  5. Part 1. Challenges and affordances of qualitative methodological approaches
  6. Chapter 2. Rethinking qualitative meta-syntheses in literacy studies 24
  7. Chapter 3. An ethnetnography of (non)belonging 45
  8. Chapter 4. Communicating selves 67
  9. Chapter 5. Commentary: The instability of ‘data’ in a postdigital era 92
  10. Part 2. Challenges and affordances of qualitative methodological approaches
  11. Chapter 6. Korean American children’s voices in translanguaging Play-Based Family Literacy (PBFL) through the  suda  ( 수다 ) approach 102
  12. Chapter 7. Bridging language and STEM 125
  13. Chapter 8. Families’ literacies of (in)visibilty 149
  14. Chapter 9. Commentary: Advancing theory through multilingual literacy qualitative research 171
  15. Part 3. Interrogating research practices
  16. Chapter 10. Embodied reflexivity and researching the literacy practices of an adolescent multilingual refugee who is d/Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing 184
  17. Chapter 11. Exploring the ‘void’ of silent/ced knowledge and expertise of multilingual learners 206
  18. Chapter 12. Critical collaborative autoethnography 232
  19. Chapter 13. Commentary: Challenging extractive epistemologies through positionalities of relation and community accountability 253
  20. Chapter 14. Conclusion: Innovative research on multilingual literacy development 261
  21. Index 265
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