The do's and dont's of research in ELT

Today is the pre-conference event at IATEFL Conference! I chose to attend Research PCE delivered by Professor Simon Borg as I am an MA student in ELT.  It is an all-day event! We have covered a lot so far. The content is already very satisfying, but more than that I like the way it is conducted. We have a big group to discuss how we assess the quality of the research topic, literature, research questions and so on... Here are some highlights:

• The research topic should be timely, focused, relevant, significant and under-studied.
• Professor Borg: "In deciding a PHD topic, finding out that 'no one has done it in my own country' is not enough, it should be broad in scope and linked to international contexts." As a novice researcher, I will write that quote on a paper and stick it on the wall of my room! 
• "Literature review without a concept of argument is pointless. No argument, no literature review!"
• Research questions should be clear, neither too broad or too narrow and researchable.

   We analysed good and bad examples of research questions, objectives and literature review. Also, we had the opportunity to do a critical analysis of them in our "chatty" groups. While he was telling us the do's and dont's of doing research in ELT, we reflected on what we did so far in our teaching contexts and thought about the ways how we could develop our research practices.