Putting subjectivity in time: Qualitatively examining multilingual identity development via a Q-inspired longitudinal design

Abstract

The dynamic turn of Applied Linguistics accentuates changes and evolvement, which requires appropriate study designs and methods with a temporal focus to accommodate the complexity in those on-going processes. Inspired by the data collection activity of Q methodology, this paper focuses on the potential of a longitudinal qualitative study design in investigating individual-level multilingual identity (MI) development, which concerns one's relationship with the multilingual world and their multilingual repertoire, and discusses its capacity in capturing and construing changes over time. The proposed design involves multiple rounds of the Q-sort activity and post-sorting interviews conducted at different timepoints with the same participant. We begin with an introduction of the design with attention to its distinction with group level and single-case Q methodology. This is followed by the conceptualisation of MI, its time-contingency and its compatibility with the proposed design. Then, we demonstrate the critical stages regarding its execution and application through a step by-step methodological tutorial. We present and construe the MI developmental trajectory of a L3-learning Chinese high school student based on qualitative analysis of three rounds of Q-sort and interview data collected over one academic year. The example highlights the design's precision and systematicity in capturing the changes of the focal construct and its efficiency in eliciting rich, targeted data. This leads to the discussions about framing of change as multi-levelled and time as relative in MI research. The whole process involves extensive participation and co-construction from the participant, which leads to discussions regarding the ethical considerations.