The Technique of Collecting Data

On the other hand, quantitative data is gained from the students’ score of pretest, posttest 1 and posttest 2. It is used to measure students’ ability in understanding the material given and also to know their score improvement after learning the material by using the writer’s technique. To analyze this numerical data, the writer uses formulas as follows: Firstly, the writer tries to get the average of students’ score per action within one cycle. It is used to know how well students’ score as a whole in understanding degrees of comparison. It uses the formula: 12 X : mean x : individual score n : number of students The next, he tries to get the class percentage which pass the minimal mastery level criterion considering English subject gained score 70 seventy which has been agreed by the English teacher. It uses the formula: 13 12 Sudjana, Metoda Statistika, Bandung: PT. Tarsito, 2002, p. 67. 13 Anas Sudijono, Pengantar Statistis Pendidikan, Jakarta: PT. Raja Grafindo Persada, 2008, p. 43. _ ∑ x X = ── n F P = ── X 100 N P : the class percentage F : total percentage score N : number of students The last, after getting the mean of students’ score per action, he identifies whether or not there might have students’ improvement score in understanding Degrees of Comparison from pre-test up to posttest score in cycle 1 and cycle 2. And to analyze it, he uses the formula: P : percentage of students’ improvement y : pre-test result y1 : post-test 1 P : percentage of students’ improvement y : pre-test result y2 : post-test 2 Besides, the writer also calculates the result of Questionnaire, and it uses the formula as follow: y2 - y P = ─ ─ ─ X 100 y y1 - y P = ─ ─ ─ X 100 y P : percentage of the answer F : total amount of the answer N : number of statements

I. The Trustworthiness of Study

To get the valid data the writer uses triangulation technique. As Anne Burns said in her book that triangulation is one of the most commonly used and best known ways of checking for validity. The aim of triangulation technique is to gather multiple perspectives on the situation being studied. 14 Besides, Anne Burns also added the definition of triangulation in her book from other experts, such as: R.B. Burns 1994:272 states that triangulation is a way of arguing that “if different methods of investigation produce the same result then the data are likely to be valid”. Silverman 1993:156 defines triangulation as: Comparing different kinds of data e.g. quantitative and qualitative and different methods e.g. observation and interviews to see whether they corroborate one another.... This form of comparison, called triangulation, derives from navigation, where different bearings give the correct position of an object.” In this case, the writer tries to gather the data of the interview, questionnaire and tests. Afterward he compares those data, whether it is relevant or not. Besides, the writer also examines the tests which are used as the instrument of the study to get its validity. To analyze the examined test items, the writer implements the 14 Anne Burns, Collaborative Action Research for English Language Teachers, New York: Cambridge University press, 1999, p.163 F P = ── X 100 N