44
CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODS
A. Type of the Research
Based on the purpose of the study that is improving students’ writing skill, this research is classified as action research. According to Kemmis and McTaggart 1990
action research is “a form of collective self-reflective inquiry undertaken by
participants in social situations in order to improve the rationality and justice of their own social or educational practices, as well as their understanding of these practices
and the situations in which these practices are carried out ”. From the definition above,
it can be concluded that action research is a study to improve social or education practices. Parsons and Brown 2002, stated that action research is a form of
investigation designed for use by teachers to attempt to solve problems and improve professional practices in their own classrooms. It involves systematic observations
and data collection which can be then used by the practitioner-researcher in reflection, decision-making and the development of more effective classroom
strategies. Shortly, Action Research is a kind of research that is conducted to critic and to improve something.
Action Research is not only about improvement of the condition of education or social environment. It has to be practical and applicable. It has to be able to be
applied in real world problems. The research is conducted by practitioners that also belong to the participants. The practitioners are partners who are active during the
research, not just partners that take part in the research, do the processes the research
45
has set. The practitioners are also expected to be creative in developing their own practices. Finally, an Action Research is also characterized by having cynical process
during the study.
B. Setting of the Research
The research was conducted in SMA N 1 Pengasih, KulonProgo. It is located in Jl. KRT Kertodiningrat 41, Margosari, Pengasih, Kulon Progo. It has 3 storerooms, 4
teacher’s bathrooms, 14 student’s bathrooms, teacher’s room, headmaster’s room, student’s council’s room, a library, a hall, a mosque, 18 classrooms, and 5
laboratories. The classes of the school consist of 4 science classes and 2 social classes for grade X, 3 science classes and 3 social classes for grade XI, and 2 classes
for science classes and 4 social classes for grade XII. The school has 5 laboratories. They are Physics Laboratory, Chemistry Laboratory, Biology Laboratory, Computer
Laboratory, and Language Laboratory. However, the Language Laboratory does not work.
The school only provides one LCD and one speaker for all classes. Teachers that need to use LCD or projector have to book them few days before the usage. The
laboratories have one LCD for each but only Chemistry’s and Physics’ projectors
work well. Therefore these two laboratories are used mostly for the entire classes of the school for any lesson.
C. Research Participants
Kategori