classroom and institution. So, the first step is to consider your context in
order to find areas which may benefit from investigation and change.
2 Critically examine your practice. Action research is investigation into the
researcher’s own practice. You should narrow down your thoughts about
your situation and focus on aspects of your own role within it. What would
you like to change about the way you work? What is it in your power to
change?
3 Try to get some colleagues interested. If two or three of you can engage in
action research at the same time, you will be able to give each other
invaluable stimulation and support. You can help each other clarify your
thoughts about the subject of your research, and use each other to think
through the likely implications of any strategies that you plan.
4 Find a starting point for research. You should choose an area of practical
concern within your day-to-day work, which you think it is feasible to
investigate within a short time frame, and where you have a reasonable
chance of effecting some change. Think about how you will collect, and
analyse, the data for your investigation—the workload needs to be
manageable.
5 Consider your starting point more carefully. Try to get other perspectives
on what is going on, in order to deepen your understanding of the situation.
This early information gathering and reflection may lead you to modify your
research question.
6 Get permission to undertake the research. If you are collecting data, it is
essential that everyone involved knows what is going on and agrees. For
example, if you are going to record your class, get your learners’ agreement
first.
7 Start collecting data. Depending on your research question, you may take
recordings of your classes, interview learners or colleagues, keep a diary,
administer questionnaires. All of these research methods have their own
complexities, and you will need to read up on your chosen approach.
8 Study your data. What does it contribute to your understanding of the
situation you are focusing on? Ideally, it will clarify your understanding to
the point where you start to get ideas for action strategies.
9 Plan an action strategy. In the light of the understanding you have gained
from your investigation, formulate a strategy to improve matters. You will
need to think through all the likely implications of your chosen strategy, and
may have to gain the agreement of others before you can carry it out.
10 Act, record and reflect. As you carry out your strategy, you should record
what happens—you could use a diary, tape recordings, interviews, etc.
These sources of data will allow you to reflect on how your strategy is
working.
11 Continue the cycle of action and reflection. Your strategies will certainly
change things; equally certain, they will not ‘solve’ the original problem
completely. The results of your strategy will contribute to your evolving84 500 TIPS FOR TESOL