Analysis of My Action Research Issue

I have decided to implement action research on the relationship between my grandmother and my family. This issue is important to me because my grandmother lives next door and she lives alone. She depends on my family often. So if our relationship is improved, we can help her better. The goal I am setting right now is to improve the listening skills of all the participants (me, my parents, and my grandmother). I think that listening more carefully to each other is very crucial in building strong relationships. Sometimes, one side talks too much and the other side is annoyed because they feel they are not heard. If both sides know how to listen well, then meaningful conversations can happen.

Environment Scan

The key decision makers in my issue are my mother and my grandmother. They are the ones that talk the most. My father and I are the listeners. The matters my mother and grandmother talk about concern them more than us. Talks are usually done after dinner. My grandmother usually comes in our apartment and starts the talking.

Strengths

Because we live so close to each other, talking is more convenient. I can go over anytime and she can come over anytime. Because we watch the same channels, our conversations start with what she saw on television. These are good conversation starters. I usually lead the conversation away from television.

Weaknesses

My grandmother might not want to listen to us because she is older than my family. She wants to be respected, therefore listened to instead of listening. This leads to frustration in my family.

We kind of have these “impressions” of each other already. Like my grandmother thinks I am a bad talker therefore don't talk to me much, which hinders me from starting a conversation.

My grandmother and my family have different educational levels. When talking about current events, it is hard to maintain the conversation because I have to stop often to talk about the circumstances leading up to the event (like talking about the nature of viruses when there’s a conversation about avian flu).

Opportunities

Professor Schneider offered a course called Listening and I have learned about how to listen affectively. In class, I examined the blocks to listening and when is the best time to listen.

Threats

I have a lot of schoolwork and the computer is in the living room, where the conversation happens. Sometimes, conversations don't happen because I need peace to work.

This is my analysis of the issue. I think it is doable because there are not many hindrances. Having strong relationships with old people can give you many insights to how to live.