DEVELOPING AUTHORIAL VOICE: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF DIGITAL STORYTELLING'S IMPACT ON ADOLESCENT L2 WRITERS’ SYNTACTIC COMPLEXITY
Downloads
Digital transformation in language education has reshaped how adolescent second language (L2) learners engage with writing, particularly through multimodal pedagogies such as digital storytelling, which offer new spaces for expression and identity construction. This study aims to investigate the longitudinal impact of digital storytelling on the development of syntactic complexity and authorial voice among adolescent L2 writers. A longitudinal mixed-methods design was employed involving forty-eight secondary school learners over one academic semester. Data were collected through three phases of digital storytelling scripts, analyzed using corpus-based syntactic complexity indices, complemented by qualitative textual analysis and learner reflections. The results demonstrate significant and sustained growth in syntactic complexity, including increased clause embedding, sentence elaboration, and structural variation across time. Qualitative findings indicate that these syntactic developments were closely associated with stronger authorial voice, reflected in clearer narrative stance, evaluative language, and enhanced writer presence. The findings suggest that digital storytelling supports syntactic development as a meaning-driven and functional process rather than a purely formal outcome. The study concludes that sustained integration of digital storytelling in L2 writing instruction can effectively foster both linguistic sophistication and expressive agency among adolescent learners, highlighting the pedagogical value of longitudinal, narrative-based digital writing practices globally today.
Adams, A., Hart, R., & Malloy, R. (2025). Reimagining Communication in the Digital Era of Nursing Leadership: A Delphi Study. Nurse Leader, 23(5), 102477. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2025.102477
Aditya, B. R., Permadi, A., Andrisyah, & Hernawati, E. (2024). Design Principles of Digital Storytelling for Children: A Design Science Research Case. Procedia Computer Science, 234, 1705–1713. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2024.03.176
Alalem, A. (2023). Digital storytelling for cultivating a participatory culture in first-year composition. Computers and Composition, 69, 102792. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compcom.2023.102792
Batur, A., & Çak?ro?lu, Ü. (2023). Implementing digital storytelling in statistics classrooms: Influences on aggregate reasoning. Computers & Education, 200, 104810. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2023.104810
Benabbes, S., & AbdulHaleem Abu Taleb, H. (2024). The effect of storytelling on the development of language and social skills in French as a foreign language classrooms. Heliyon, 10(8), e29178. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29178
Bordignon, A., & Domenici, D. (2025). Enhancing access and understanding of ancient manuscripts: the 3D Digital Edition of the Codex Cospi. Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, 39, e00474. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.daach.2025.e00474
Chang, C.-C., Hwang, G.-J., & Chen, K.-F. (2023). Fostering professional trainers with robot-based digital storytelling: A brainstorming, selection, forming and evaluation model for training guidance. Computers & Education, 202, 104834. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2023.104834
Darville-Sanders, G., Munroe, D., Corluyan, E., Ikoiwak, U., Nguyen, J., Mandula, C., Thomas, P., & Sanders, B. (2025). Components of a Digital Storytelling Intervention for Human Papillomavirus and Cancer Prevention Among LGBTQ+ Individuals: Formative Mixed Methods Inquiry. JMIR Formative Research, 9. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.2196/58163
Erdo?an, B., & Altay, N. (2025). “Meaning-Making Through Digital Storytelling: Experiences of Children and Adolescents with Cancer within Peplau’s Theory and a Hermeneutic Approach.” European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 103076. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2025.103076
Ferreira, J., & Kendrick, M. (2025). “They hear it from me”: Student voices on critically assessing digital multimodal composing. International Journal of Educational Research, 133, 102737. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2025.102737
Gita, D. U., Ferede, B., & Tondeur, J. (2025). Exploring the association between digital storytelling and self-regulated learning: a review of claims. Computers and Education Open, 9, 100267. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeo.2025.100267
Gö?ebakan Y?ld?z, D., & Atman Uslu, N. (2024). Investigating the effect of digital storytelling on multicultural competencies and social justice: A mixed method study in psychological counseling education. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 103, 102065. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2024.102065
Griew, K., Dunphy, C., & Fairbrother, G. (2024). Storytelling in midwifery: ‘Not just for entertainment.’ Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 42, 101040. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2024.101040
Guo, J., Deng, X., Zhu, J., Gao, S., Li, X., Huang, L., & Ye, M. (2025). Effects of humanistic care digital storytelling programme on the humanistic qualities of intensive care unit nursing students: A mixed-methods study. Nurse Education in Practice, 85, 104348. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2025.104348
Hoveskog, M., & Björkén-Nyberg, C. (2025). Designing value propositions for sustainability: The use of speculative storytelling to explore future mobility. Futures, 173, 103666. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2025.103666
Kalantari, S., Rubegni, E., Benton, L., & Vasalou, A. (2023). “When I’m writing a story, I am really good” Exploring the use of digital storytelling technology at home. International Journal of Child-Computer Interaction, 38, 100613. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcci.2023.100613
Liang, J.-C., & Hwang, G.-J. (2023). A robot-based digital storytelling approach to enhancing EFL learners’ multimodal storytelling ability and narrative engagement. Computers & Education, 201, 104827. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2023.104827
Liu, T., Gomez, G., & Shipman, F. M. (2025). Investigating Children’s Multimodal Enactment in Digitally Augmented Tabletop Storytelling. International Journal of Child-Computer Interaction, 46, 100770. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcci.2025.100770
Lohr, A. M., Vickery, K. D., Hernandez, V., Ford, B. R., Gonzalez, C., Kavistan, S., Patten, C. A., Njeru, J. W., Novotny, P. J., Larkey, L. K., Singh, D., Wieland, M. L., & Sia, I. G. (2023). Stories for change protocol: A randomized controlled trial of a digital storytelling intervention for Hispanic/Latino individuals with type 2 diabetes. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 126, 107093. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2023.107093
Mackenzie, M. (2024). Curated Content: an exploration of the act of (digital) mark-making in the form of analogue drawings. Telematics and Informatics Reports, 14, 100144. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teler.2024.100144
Mankevich, V., Tumbas, S., & Holmström, J. (2025). Digital innovation sourcing through entrepreneurial storytelling: Insights from Pebble time’s crowdfunding success. Information and Organization, 35(1), 100552. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infoandorg.2024.100552
Mathisen, F. K. S., Grøttjord-Glenne, T., Berge, K. G., & Brattabø, I. V. (2025). Describing the innovation and development of Educational Storytelling; an innovative, novel interdisciplinary training program against child maltreatment. Child Protection and Practice, 4, 100094. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100094
Mete ?zci, S., & Çetinkaya, B. (2024). The impact of digital storytelling for children during paediatric day surgery on anxiety and negative emotional behaviors: Randomized controlled trial. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 77, e231–e241. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2024.04.034
Molder, A. L., Anderton, B., Howell, E., Goodwin, S., Behrman, S., & Ellefson, M. (2025). Use of personal storytelling in educational videos promotes student engagement and science identity in undergraduate biology courses. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education, 26(3). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1128/jmbe.00084-25
Mpofu-Mketwa, T. J., Abrams, A., & Black, G. F. (2023). Reflections on measuring the soundness of the digital storytelling method applied to three Cape Flats vulnerable communities affected by drought, fire and flooding in Cape Town. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 7(1), 100407. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2023.100407
Mutlu, C. G., & Da?, F. (2024). A digital narrative study concerning global crisis period: The pandemic’s impact on the domestic responsibilities of women health workers in Türkiye. Women’s Studies International Forum, 107, 102994. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2024.102994
Namaziandost, E., & Çakmak, F. (2025). Impact of AI-generated storytelling vs. gamified learning on vocabulary retention and engagement in CALL environments. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 9, 100505. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2025.100505
Namaziandost, E., & Çelik, F. (2025). Revealing the effects of task complexity through digital storytelling on learning consonant clusters and language mindsets in EFL learners: A mixed-methods analysis. Acta Psychologica, 258, 105295. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105295
Palioura, M., & Sapounidis, T. (2025). “Storytelling and educational robotics: A scoping review (2004–2024).” Computers & Education, 225, 105186. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2024.105186
Ramezanzadeh, A., & Ebadi, S. (2025). AI-generated storytelling for socially just EFL pedagogy: Exploring learner emotions through Fraser’s justice theory. System, 129, 103588. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2024.103588
Reyhan, F. A., & Da?l?, E. (2024). Investigation of midwifery students’ opinions on the digital storytelling method in midwifery education and assessment of their digital stories. Nurse Education Today, 140, 106262. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106262
Richardson, P. E., & Wilson, S. (2024). Evaluating a women’s digital inclusion and storytelling initiative through the lens of empowerment. Digital Geography and Society, 7, 100092. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diggeo.2024.100092
Rodney, H., Taylor, S. B., Zaretsky, A., Ocvirk, R., & Shenderey, R. (2025). The Out of Darkness project - What makes an impactful digital storytelling tool? Psychiatry Research Communications, 5(3), 100222. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psycom.2025.100222
Schreyer, L., Crawford, A., Fernando, O., Lockwood, V., Soklaridis, S., Remington, G., Chintoh, A., Berkhout, S., & Kalocsai, C. (2025). Out of Focus: Illuminating embodied entanglements of treatment resistance in schizophrenia and depression through narrative interviews and digital storytelling. SSM - Mental Health, 7, 100454. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmmh.2025.100454
Shadaan, R. (2025). “It’s a mixture of emotions”: Nail technicians’ visual storytelling of work and health. Qualitative Research in Medicine & Healthcare, 9(1), 100003. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.qrmh.2025.100003
Song, Z., Whyke, T. W., Sun, X., & Evans, L. (2025). A phenomenology study of transmedia museum storytelling and gamification through XR technologies. Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, 38, e00444. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.daach.2025.e00444
Steinhaeusser, S. C., & Lugrin, B. (2024). Integrating sound effects and background music in Robotic storytelling – A series of online studies across different story genres. Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans, 2(2), 100085. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbah.2024.100085
Tan, X., Xu, W., & Wang, C. (2025a). Purposeful remixing with generative AI: Constructing designer voice in multimodal composing. Computers and Composition, 75, 102893. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compcom.2024.102893
Tan, X., Xu, W., & Wang, C. (2025b). Voice in AI-assisted multimodal texts: What do readers pay attention to? Computers and Composition, 75, 102918. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compcom.2025.102918
Thomson, M., Cosby, A., & Harreveld, B. (2025). Barriers and opportunities for creative non-fiction storytelling in agriculture research extension. Journal of Rural Studies, 114, 103547. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2024.103547
Utomo, D. M., & Day, J. (2025). Storytelling as a methodology for decolonising transport: insights from Banjarmasin. Mobilities. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/17450101.2025.2581035
Zhao, W., Kelly, R. M., Rogerson, M. J., & Waycott, J. (2025). Older adults co-creating and experiencing VR garden tours: Developing a participatory VR storytelling framework. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 205, 103656. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2025.103656
Zschaebitz, E., Culbertson, A., McCrea, K., Crowell, N., Walker, K., Hampton, C., Mihai, M., & Wilkinson, M. (2024). Utilizing Storytelling to Impact Faculty Attitudes and Beliefs About Transgender People. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 20(1), 104823. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2023.104823
Copyright (c) 2025 Wang Jun, Michael Johnson, Ruby King
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
