English Language Teachers' Conceptions of Research

Bibliographic Data

ID19611804
AuthorsSimon Borg (0000-0003-2827-142X, University of Leeds, corresponding author)
Year2009
Volume30
Issue3
Pages358-388
Publication date2009-03-24
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueApplied Linguistics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0142-6001 • E-ISSN: 1477-450X
PublisherOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1093/applin/amp007
OpenAlexW2122849280
LanguageEN
Citations received77
References cited20

This article examines the conceptions of research held by 505 teachers of English from 13 countries around the world. Questionnaire responses supplemented by follow-up written and interview data were analyzed to understand teachers’ views on what research is and how often they read and do it (and why or why not in each case). An understanding of these issues is central to the development of informed policies for promoting teacher research engagement, but relevant systematic evidence is lacking in the field of English language teaching (ELT). The study shows that the teachers held conceptions of research aligned with conventional scientific notions of inquiry. The teachers also reported moderate to low levels of reading and doing research, with a lack of time, knowledge, and access to material emerging as key factors which teachers felt limited their ability to be research-engaged. Teachers engaged in research reported being driven largely by practical and professional concerns rather than external drivers such as employers or promotion. Overall, the findings of this study point to a number of attitudinal, conceptual, procedural, and institutional barriers to teacher research engagement. Understanding these, it is argued here, is an essential part of the broader process of trying to address them and hence to make teacher research engagement a more feasible activity in ELT

Applied linguistics · Language assessment · Language education · Linguistics · Mathematics education · Pedagogy · Sociology · Educational Strategies and Epistemologies · Educator Training and Historical Pedagogy · Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods · Philosophy · Psychology

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