Theories on Transfer Error in Interlanguage Process

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CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter consists of six sections, namely the research‟s method, the research setting, the research data, the data gathering technique as well as the data analysis technique, and lastly, the research procedure. The first, the second and the third sections present the chosen research type, the time and the place of the research, and the studied issues. The data gathering technique section unveils the technique of collecting data that is being used in this research, while the data analysis technique part discusses the method of analysis to answer the formulated research problems. Finally, the sixth section of this chapter discloses the five major steps taken by the writer in conducting the research.

3.1 Research Method

Academic research methodologies can be divided into two major groups; quantitative research and qualitative research. The most distinguishable feature can be seen from each research‟s attempts. Harwell 2011 describes the attempts of quantitative r esearch methods as to “maximize objectivity, replicability, and generalizibility of findings, and are typically interested in prediction ” p. 149. The author further mention its characteristic as “deductive”, and also pointed the key features of most of t he studies as “the use of instruments such as tests or surveys to collect data, and reliance on probability theory to test statistical hypotheses that correspond to research questi ons of interest”. 55 However, considering the nature of the problems, the objectives of the research, and as well as the descriptive nature of the research findings, the writer suggested that the proper method required by this research is a qualitative one. There are two reasons to explain why this research is categorized as a qualitative research. The first reason is that it is due to the detail of the data provided in this research. Concerning this reason, Harwell 2011 conveys that qualitative research has to do with “a detailed exploration of a topic interest in which information is collected by a writer ” through various qualitative-based methods p. 148. The second reason is because of the inductive-approach nature that emerged in this research. Patton 1983, in his review on qualitative research methodology explains that “qualitative measurement has to do with the kinds of data and information that are collected,” and he further implied that a group of data can be included as qualitative data if it contains detail and depth descriptions of the studied issue. In this research, the writer emphasizes the detail of the analyzed data. As the writer thoroughly compares Cantonese and English consonant speech-sounds, he describes how each of the studied sound is being articulated throughout the organs of speech, and how it is being processed acoustically in the tract. Patton 1983 also mentions that “qualitative design begins with specific observations and builds toward general pattern”. This nature of inductive approach can be found in the manner that this research was indeed conducted with this very way of conduction. The discussion on the inductive steps taken in this research will be discussed in the research procedure section.