Microfocus X-ray scattering and micro Raman spectroscopy have been applied to study the beta-transcrystalline morphology in isotactic polypropylene. The transformation from the alpha- to the beta-form through the so-called bifurcation of growth mechanism has been investigated with high spatial resolution. We found that the mixed alpha-beta region does not present spatial correlation along the shearing direction, implying that there is no cooperative crystallization from the different beta-nucleation centres. In addition, a strong change in the lamellar orientation of the alpha-form thin layer that induces the growth of the beta-crystallites has been observed for the first time. Finally, changes in the relative intensities of some selected Raman bands allowed the observation of the alpha-beta transformation process at the molecular level. [GRAPHICS] (C) 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim