The challenges and possibilities of doing research in the contemporary digital world

Established research practices and traditions have been disrupted in the last decade, and especially recently. This has been due, in part, to the increasing digitisation of many societies internationally, the global pandemic and its impact in education and work, the shift to online digital platforms that use artificial intelligence, the cultural imperialism of western technology companies and globalisation, and the complexities of English as the de facto international language in the context of international scholarly exchange through digital systems. We are now entering a new era of research practice internationally in which the challenges and possibilities of research in these times must be considered. This article examines the range of challenges that come with navigating research in the global digital world and in times of profound change and brings attention to the possibilities for doing research in alternative and promising ways that embrace the digital. An illustrative case study of digitally based research in Melbourne, Australia in described as part of this article. The research was an investigation of the multifaceted digital literacy practices of adults from migrant and refugee backgrounds in the context of English language learning, using the online digital platform, Zoom. Employing research data, existing empirical and conceptual research and theoretical ideas derived from American philosopher of technology, Don Idhe, the author constructs a new thinking model for conceiving research in digital times. Key implications for research practice are explored.