How to Get Started

The major argument for educational research, carried out by people who are
closely involved with teaching, is that teaching is a complex activity, and no
one else will produce the kind of research needed. (Brumfit, 1995, p. 36)

In this chapter, you will learn: what TREES are, some of my

thoughts and assumptions about research, some of your thoughts and
assumptions about research, and how to get started by thinking of a
problem to research. As you read, pay attention to questions that
come to you. At the end of many chapters you will see a large box. In
that box write a question or two that popped into your mind as you
read this chapter.

What does TREE mean?

TREE stands for Teacher-Researcher-Educator-Evaluator. I use this
term because it best describes me as a classroom teacher and a
researcher. Sometimes I think of myself as a teacher who is also a
researcher, and sometimes I think of myself as a researcher who is
also a teacher (Stewart, 2006). I am also an educator and an evalua-
tor; As an educator, I am interested in classroom issues, as an evalu-

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ator I want to know what works in my classes. Thus, there is a

relationship between being a teacher, a researcher, an educator, and
an evaluator. When I write about research, I sometimes refer to
myself and my readers in one of those roles and sometimes in
another, which is confusing because no matter which term I use, I
want to include the others. Therefore, I coined the term TREE to
include all of these roles.

Some of my assumptions about research

1. Most teachers see themselves primarily as classroom

instructors, and secondarily as researchers, if at all. One
reason for this assumption is that most of us got started in
teaching because we found that we loved the interaction of
teaching, with little or no thought of research. Another
reason is that we often have not been trained to be
researchers, and as a result the thought of doing research
often annoys us or scares us.
2. Teachers should also be researchers because I agree with
Brumfit (1995) who says that teachers need to do their own
research because nobody is going to do our job for us.
3. One way to begin thinking about research is to study the
structure of the published research papers. Although no two
research papers are exactly alike, there is a common
structure that identifies the genre, and it can be helpful to be
familiar with that structure.
4. In addition, dividing research into quantitative data
(numbers and statistical analysis) and qualitative data
(verbal or narrative reporting) is not helpful because it
shunts us off into one area or the other, and such thinking
doesn’t encourage us to use all of the tools and ideas we
otherwise could.
5. I also believe that research and evaluation are activities
every teacher engages in, except that we do not usually call
it research. Whenever we walk into a classroom, we are alert

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to all kinds of input we reflect on, categorize, and learn

from. In that sense, research is what happens when we do
our normal job.
6. Ideas for research come from many sources such as
reflecting on our teaching, going to conferences, talking and
listening to others, reading books and journals, becoming
aware of a problem, and taking courses, especially graduate
level courses.
7. If we are to survive and succeed as individuals as well as
professionals, we have to attend conferences and give
presentations. No matter the size of our school or the city in
which we are located, we can be isolated; we need to
constantly be reaching out and networking. Attending
conferences is one way to do that.
8. Everyone feels inadequate. Remember the first time you
rode a bicycle, your first kiss; in fact, the first time you did
anything? Getting started is not a pretty sight. When
starting research, we teachers are in the same position that
our students are in most of the time, trying to get started
while feeling inadequate.
9. Finally, anyone can do research. If you have enough
knowledge and skill to be a teacher, you have enough
knowledge and skill to be a researcher. The question is, why
would anybody want to? I have two answers. First, if we
don’t do research to answer our questions, nobody else will
do it for us. Second, if we don’t engage in research, we
endanger ourselves because we will be doomed to keep
repeating our experiences. Repetition leads to boredom, the
first stage of depression and burnout.

What are some of your ideas about research?

In order to begin to answer this question, try answering the ques-
tionnaire on the next page I call the Preferences Data Questionnaire
or PDQ. There are only eight questions. Your answers may give you
an insight into the type of research designs you are attracted to. To

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take the PDQ, read the eight statements below. As you read each of
the items, circle the number that best fits your feeling about the
statement. If you aren’t sure, just guess.

Preferences Design Questionnaire (PDQ)

1. I like to personally observe what I am researching to get data.
- No——Not Sure——Maybe——Probably——Absolutely -

—1 ——— 2 ————— 3 ———— 4 ————— 5 ———

2. Interviewing people is a good way to do research.

- No——Not Sure——Maybe——Probably——Absolutely -
—1 ——— 2 ————— 3 ———— 4 ————— 5 ———

3. Questionnaires show what people really think.

- No——Not Sure——Maybe——Probably——Absolutely -
—1 ——— 2 ————— 3 ———— 4 ————— 5 ———

4. Letting people mark or write answers to questions is a good way

to collect information.

- No——Not Sure——Maybe——Probably——Absolutely -
—1 ——— 2 ————— 3 ———— 4 ————— 5 ———

5. Tests can show what students have learned.

- No——Not Sure——Maybe——Probably——Absolutely -
—1 ——— 2 ————— 3 ———— 4 ————— 5 ———

6. If you want to know something, ask questions and listen to what

people say.

- No——Not Sure——Maybe——Probably——Absolutely -
—1 ——— 2 ————— 3 ———— 4 ————— 5 ———

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 An Introduction to Second Language Research Methods

7. If I am doing research on my students, I like to watch them care-

fully and notice what they do.

- No——Not Sure——Maybe——Probably——Absolutely -
—1 ——— 2 ————— 3 ———— 4 ————— 5 ———

8. Although not perfect, test scores can be a good indicator of

learning.

- No——Not Sure——Maybe——Probably——Absolutely -
—1 ——— 2 ————— 3 ———— 4 ————— 5 ———

How to score the PDQ questionnaire

Add your scores for items 3, 4, 5, and 8 and record the total for A.

Add your scores for items 1, 2, 6 and 7 and record the total for B.

A Item numbers: 3 __ + 4 __ + 5 __ + 8 __ = ____

B Item numbers: 1 __ + 2 __ + 6 __ + 7 __ = ____

If your score in the A column is higher than your score in the B

column, it may indicate you like to look at research analytically, and
you might like to use tests and analyze them using statistics. You might
like the experimental research design. You also might like question-
naires that provide numbers in much the same way that the one you
just took did. In that case, you might like the survey research design.

If your score in the B column is higher than your score in the A

column, it may indicate you like to look at the whole picture and not
break things down into parts. You might be drawn to observation
and informal situations. Perhaps you like to listen to what people
have to say. In that case, you might be interested in a research design
such as case study or action research.

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What do your PDQ scores mean?

First, work with a partner or in a small group. Tell your partner
what your PDQ A and B scores are. Listen as they tell you their
scores.

Second, in your opinion, are your A column scores very different

(more than three points apart) or practically the same (three or less
points apart) as your B column scores?

Third, what is your best guess as to what your PDQ scores might
say about you and how you might begin a research project?

How I usually get started

There may not be any one best way to start a research project that
works for all of us all the time. However, as I reflect on my own
experience, I seem to have a general starting point. I often start from
a problem, and from the problem I work to formulate a research
question or questions I want to answer.

Where do research questions come from?

Formulating a problem may not be easy. This could be because as
readers of research, we often see the results of another person’s
research, but we do not know the process the researcher went
through to get the idea for the research. I decided to ask faculty,
graduate students, and under graduate students how they got ideas
for research projects. After informally interviewing these groups of
researchers, three sources for research ideas emerged: research ideas
that originate outside ourselves, ideas that come from within
ourselves, and ideas that come from current research in our field of
interest.

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 An Introduction to Second Language Research Methods

Research ideas that originate outside ourselves

More experienced researchers (MERs) such as teachers, state that
they are receptive to questions from their students. For example,
teachers can get ideas for research from the questions that students
ask. Additionally, MERs are likely to attend conferences, which they
report as another way of getting ideas. They attend session on topics
of interest, and come away with handouts, ideas, and in some cases,
the presenter as a research collaborator. Finally, experienced
researchers often look for or are approached by other persons who
suggest topics and ask them to partner with them on research
projects.

Less experienced researchers (LERs) tend to listen to the professor

of a class they are taking. They listen carefully to the course
instructor as he/she mentions research ideas in class or in meetings
after class. In graduate school, I used to take notes, especially during
the first class, when my professors gave their opening lecture. Often,
they would give a review of the subject with possibilities for research
projects. I could nearly always find a topic. Sometimes LERs ask
their professors directly for research ideas, and sometimes they are
able to work with professors and joint projects. Attending conference
presentations can also give LERs ideas. Finally, less experienced
researchers told me that they talk to their friends both in and out of
class for research ideas.

Research ideas that originate from within ourselves

More experienced researchers have past research experience which
provides ideas and gives them a base from which to launch new
research. MERs read and reflect on current research that provides
them ideas. MERs pay attention to what they are interested in, and
find the research aspect of that interest.

Less experienced researchers report that they think about what they
want to know, and sometimes research projects come from an area or
person they want to know more about. Their biggest challenge is to

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find a research area that they would find interesting to sustain them
through the research process.

Research ideas that originate from research in the field

More experienced researchers are likely to be currently engaged in
research; they know that whatever project they are doing, it is likely
that it will spawn additional ideas that can be investigated. In other
words, they see a research project as an area or multiple ideas, not an
isolated idea that once investigated is over. In addition, MERs have
read the literature in their area and as a result can identify gaps in
research. They know that they can research those gaps. Finally, most
textbooks are written by the very instructors that teach the courses
in which those textbooks are used. When a textbook becomes
outdated or when they have a new approach, MERs can nominate
themselves to work on a textbook which in many cases involves
research.
Less experienced researchers report that they read generally and
more specifically in the field they want to research. More general
reading includes newspapers, going on-line to search for a topic, and
pleasure books to get ideas; specific reading includes journal articles
from previous research and the assigned text.

If you are new to research, how can you get a research idea?

1. Listen to your instructor in class as they discuss research

areas. Make an appointment and follow up. Give your
instructor some idea of what interests you; don’t expect to
just be given a research idea. Your instructors probably had
to work for their ideas, and they expect you to do the same.
2. Attending conferences on a topic area is always a good idea.
There may be small conferences held nearby, especially
those in your university and even in your department. A

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conference of any size is a marketplace of ideas waiting to be

picked up free of charge.
3. Ask your librarian what journals and periodicals are in the
library, browse through them looking for interesting topics.
If you find an article describing research that interests you,
there is no reason you can’t replicate the research. Get a
copy of the article, study it, and see if you can do the same
or similar research.
4. Think about an idea you are familiar with and would like to
investigate further. Ask your instructors what they think
about the idea. Get into the habit of talking to your fellow
students as professionals about research.
5. Consider any assigned textbook as a source for research
ideas. Look through the table of contents for interesting
chapters, and then skim and scan for ideas.
6. Another approach to getting started in research is
Barkhuizen (2009, p. 116) who asks teachers new to
research a series of seven open-ended questions. For
example, his first question is “I remember once in my
classroom I had a very difficult time trying to …”. All the
questions are related, and together, the answers might form
a helpful narrative to get started.

Task 1

Pick at least one of my assumptions and say why you agree or

disagree with it.

_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Task 2

List two of your assumptions about research. Think of an assumption

as any thought, idea, or belief you have.

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Assumption One

_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Assumption Two
_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Task 3
Fill out the research proposal form below. If some of the categories
are not clear, write “undecided” and fill them in later. Assume you
can change your mind at any time, but if a proposal or a complete
research paper is required, also assume that time is limited.

Research Proposal Form

Name _____________________________________ Date ________

Where did the idea for this research come from?

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

What is the purpose of this research?

_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

State your research questions (RQs)

_________________________________________________________

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 An Introduction to Second Language Research Methods

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________
For each RQ, state the purpose. (Why are you asking it, what do
you hope to find?)

For example, RQ1 will tell me X, RQ2 will tell me Y.

_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

What data collection instrument could you use to gather data to

answer the RQ?

_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Who are your likely participants?

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

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