36 2, intervention, and post-test 2 towards both experimental and control group. The
intervention in the second session was same as the previous session in which a picture comparison interactive medium was implemented in the experimental
group and PowerPoint slides were used in the control group. With the same time allocation as in the first session, the learning material in the second session also
consisted of 7 pairs of near-synonyms. After the second session of intervention, the researcher
revealed the students’ opinion towards the materials and learning media implemented in their class by interviewing some representatives of the
students.
5. Evaluating and reflecting the results
In this step, the researcher reflected everything that happened during the implementation of the learning media. The researcher compared the results of the
pre-tests and post-tests, summarized all of the observation and interview results, and then interpreted all of the collected data. After that, the researcher could
figure out the answers of the problem question.
3.2 Research Setting
This study was conducted at SMA Negeri 7 Yogyakarta. This school is located in Jl. MT Haryono No. 47 Suryodiningratan, Mantrijeron, Yogyakarta.
SMA Negeri 7 Yogyakarta is one of state senior high schools in Yogyakarta which had lots of achievements.
37
3.3 Research Participant
The participants of this study were the students of the tenth grade in SMA Negeri 7 Yogyakarta. There were eight classes of tenth grade consisting of 34
students in six of the classes, 27 students in one of the classes, and 32 students in one of the classes; however, the researcher randomly chose two classes X MIA 2
and X MIA 5 as the sample of the study. On the day when the research was conducted, there were 26 students who were present at X MIA 2 and 28 students
were present at X MIA 5. To get more comprehensive information about this study, the researcher
also chose 10 students from every class to be interviewed. Based on what has been observed by the researcher during her pre-service teacher preparation
programme in the classes, the students from both experimental and control group were considered having good basic mastery in English vocabulary. However,
most of them faced some difficulties in differentiating and using near-synonyms in contexts.
3.4 Instruments and Data Gathering Technique
This section will discuss all instruments that were administered to obtain the data for this study as well as the technique used by the researcher to gather the
data. There were three instruments used to collect the data needed for this research. They were vocabulary tests, observation sheets, and interviews. In the
data gathering technique, the researcher will explain how to use the instruments in collecting the data.
38
3.4.1 Instruments
As explained before, the researcher used vocabulary tests, observation sheets, and interviews as the instruments in this research. In conducting the
observation, the researcher used observation sheets to observe the students’
attitude during the tests and learning processes. Then, the vocabulary tests consisting of pre-tests and post-tests were administered to measure whether the
learning media were successful in fostering the students near-synonym mastery. The last instrument was interviews which were aimed to get more comprehensive
information from the participants of this study. The researcher interviewed 20 students as the representatives of the participants. The researcher explained more
how the instruments were used in the data gathering technique section.
3.4.1.1 Tests
In this study, this instrument helped the researcher to measure the students’
improvement in their vocabulary mastery. Hence, the researcher administered two kinds of tests. They were pre-test and post-test. The pre-test was aimed to measure
the participants’ mastery in using and differentiating near-synonyms before the implementation of the learning media. This kind of instrument enabled the
researcher to figure out whether the participants faced any problems in understanding and using near-synonyms. After the implementation of the learning
media, the post-test was employed to know whether the learning media could successfully help the students in mastering the vocabulary.
Fourteen pairs of near-synonyms were selected in this study. For the first session, the set of the near-synonym pairs were hear-listen, see-look at, look at-
39 watch, wedding-marriage, complicated-complex, increase-raise, and govern-rule.
Then, in the second session, the set of the near-synonym pairs were taste-flavor, live-stay, gather-collect, forecast-predict, shy-embarrassed, exhibition-show, and
soft-smooth. The following tables contain definitions of the fourteen near- synonym pairs. In the tables, the researcher is going to write Cambridge to refer to
Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 2008 and Oxford to refer to Oxford Learner’s Pocket Thesaurus 2010.
Table 3.1 The Description of Near-synonyms in the First Session
Pairs of Near- synonyms
Definitions and Subtle Differences
Examples
1 Hear – Listen
Hear To receive or become
conscious of a sound using your ears Cambridge
Listen It refers to an action to give
attention to someone or something in order to hear
them Cambridge. 1 I heard someone
calling my name Cambridge
2 What kind of music do you listen to
Cambridge?
2 See – Look at
See To be conscious of what is
around you by using your eyes Cambridge
Look at To direct your eyes in order
to see Cambridge
1 Jacqui saw the car drive up outside the
police station Cambridge.
2 She looked at me and smiled Oxford.
3 Look at – Watch
Look At To direct your eyes in order
to see the objects are usually static Cambridge
1 They looked at the picture and laughed
Cambridge. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
40
Pairs of Near- synonyms
Definitions and Subtle Differences
Examples Watch
To look at something for a period of time, especially
something that is changing or moving Cambridge
2 I had dinner and watched television
for a couple of hours
Cambridge.
4 Wedding –
Marriage
Wedding It refers to the occasion the
ceremony of getting married Oxford.
Marriage It usually refers to the state
or relationship of being married Oxford.
1 We were invited to my cousin’s wedding
Oxford.
2 They had a long and happy marriage
Oxford.
5 Complicated –
Complex
Complicated It is used more to describe
everyday situations Oxford.
Complex It is often to describe
academic, scientific or technical issues, especially
in written English Oxford. 1 The instructions look
very complicated Oxford.
2 A complex mathematical formula
Oxford.
6 Increase – Raise
Increase To make something become
larger in amountsize. It is used slightly more often
about numbers, prices, figures Oxford.
Raise To make something become
larger in amount or size. It is used often about feelings
and qualities Oxford 1 They have increased
the price by 50 Oxford.
2 Our little chat has raised my spirits
Cambridge.
7 Govern – Rule
Govern The subjects are elected
parties or governments Oxford.
1 The Liberals had governed the country
for 11 years Oxford. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
