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C. The Method of Research
This research was conducted as an action research. The writer was assisted by an observer, who is also an English teacher of SMAN I Girimarto. The
observer and the writer collaboratively designed, planned, revised the research procedures, and also discussed the research results as reflection.
1. Definition of Action Research
The definitions of an action research are stated by many experts, as follows: Elliot 1991: 69, states:
“Action research is the study of social situation with a view to improving the quality of action within it. It aims to feed practical judgment concrete
situations and the validity of the theories or hypothesis it generates depends not so much on scientific test of truth, as on their usefulness in
helping people to act more intelligently and skillfully. In action research theories are not validated through practice”.
Burns 1999: 30 quoted from Carr and Kemmis 1996: 162 defines that: “Action research is a form of self-reflective enquiry undertaken by
participants teacher, students or principals, for example in social including educational situations in order to improve the rationality and
justice of a their own social or educational practices, b their understanding of these practices, and c the situation; and institutions in
which these practices are carried out “.
McNiff 1988: 1 defines that: “ Action Research is a form of self-reflective enquiry that is now being used
in school-based curriculum development, professional development, school improvement schemes and so on, and such as, it actively involves
teachers as participants in their own educational process”.
xlvii From the definitions above Action Research is carried out in school to get an
improvement of the teaching and learning process. Action Research is conducted in this study to improve the students learning
motivation and listening proficiency. The fact shows that the students learning motivation and listening proficiency in my English class is still unsatisfactory.
2. The Characteristics of Action Research
Burns 1999: 30 suggests a number of common features which can be considered to characterize Action Research:
1. Action Research is contextual, small-scale and localized. It identifies and investigates problems within a specific situation.
2. It is evaluative and reflective as it aims to bring about change and improvement in practice.
3. It is participatory as it provides for collaborative investigation by teams of colleagues, practitioners and researchers.
4. Changes in practice are based on the collection of information or data which provides the impetus for change.
Kemmis and McTaggart in Nunan 1992: 17 state that there are three characteristics of action research; firstly, the action research is carried out by
practitioners rather the outside researcher. Secondly, the kind of the action research is collaborative, and thirdly, the action research is aimed at changing conditions.
xlviii Based on the statements above, the characteristics of Action Research can
be concluded as follows: 1. Action research is carried out by practitioners.
2. The process of evaluation and reflection in its aim is to bring about social and educational change and improvement.
3. Action Research provides collaborative investigation by teams of colleagues, practitioners and researchers.
4. The results of the research have direct application to real-world problems. 5. The treatments and methods which are investigated are flexible.
3. The Model of Action Research
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