“But once I did it, it was incredible”: practitioner action researchers’ experiences of transcription and using transcripts

Predominant patterns of classroom interaction are notoriously difficult to change. This article examines teachers’ use of transcription and transcripts as methods for enabling changes to classroom interaction practices over the course of action research projects in primary school classrooms. We employ thematic analysis of interviews with 12 teachers and delineate four themes addressing teachers’ experiences of transcription and developing transcripts. Discussion considers the importance of teacher-developed transcripts in their action research, addressing the ‘taken-for-granted’ in the transcription process, and the possibilities for enhanced uses of transcription for making deliberate changes to classroom talk and interaction. We conclude that transcription by teacher researchers may be a powerful way to inform both the conduct of action research in classrooms and collaborative research with academic researchers to bring about changes to classroom interaction. Finally, we suggest that teachers may find even more focused approaches to transcription useful at some stages of their action research.