Methods of Experimental Research

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3.3.2 Independent Variable

Meanwhile, independent variables X is stated as “factor which is measured, manipulated, or selected by the experimenter to determine its relationship to an observed phenomenon” http:www.gifted.uconn.edusiegleresearchVariables IVDV.htm. In line with the definition, independent variable in my study is the application of Five-Minute activities in teaching writing descriptive text.

3.4 Methods of Experimental Research

Some steps done in a chronological order are always required in conducting an experiment. The following steps were taken by me when I worked on my experiment : 1 First of all, I chose the seventh grade students of SMP Negeri 6 Tegal as the population. 2 Then, I took two groups that consisted of class VII B as the control group consisted of 38 students, while class VII D as the experimental group consisted of 37 students. After that, I conducted the real experiment. The activities of the experimental group are as the following : 1 Pre-test Pre-test was given before doing the experiment. I came into the class that was chosen as the experimental group. After giving short introduction, I gave the students the pre-test. The theme of pre test is about “My Favorite Teacher”. 52 2 Activities in doing the experiment The students were taught some materials about descriptive text. During the teaching process, I used the Five-Minute Activities. The activities I used in this experiment were Imaginary classroom; Imaginative descriptions; Who, where and what? and You write next. 3 Post-test The post-test was given at the end of the experiment. The test given was not the same as the pre-test. The theme is about “My Classmate” The list of activities of the experimental group is as follows : Table 3.1 Activities of the Experimental Group No Activities Material Five-Minute Activities Time 1 Pre-test Descriptive text test Wednesday, April 6 th , 2011. 2 Experiment A descriptive text text, communicative purpose, generic structure, and language features of descriptive text. Imaginary Classroom + You Write Next Thursday, April 7 th , 2011. 3 Experiment A descriptive text Imaginative Descriptions + You Write Saturday, April 9 th , 2011 53 Next 4 Experiment A descriptive text Who Where and What + You Write Next Thursday, April 14 th , 2011 5 Experiment A descriptive text You write and next Saturday, April 16 th , 2011 6 Post-test Descriptive text test Wednesday, April 20, 2001 The activities of the control group are as the following : 1 Pre-test The administration procedure of pre-test for the control group was the same as the administration procedure for the experimental group. 2 Teaching and learning activities in the control group In the process of teaching and learning in the control group, the students were given the same materials that were about descriptive text. However, the students were not given Five-Minute Activities, but they were taught descriptive text by using pictures. 3 Post-test Like the students in the experimental group, the students in the control group, the test were also given was not the same as the pre-test.. 54 The list of activities of the control group is as the following : Table 3.2 Activities of the Control Group No Activities Material Time 1 Pre-test Descriptive text test Wednesday, April 6 th , 2011. 2 Teaching-learning Pictures and a descriptive text text, communicative purpose, generic structure, and language features of descriptive text. Thursday, April 7 th , 2011. 3 Teaching-learning Pictures and a descriptive text Saturday, April 9 th , 2011 4 Taeching-learning A descriptive text Thursday, April 14 th , 2011 5 Taeching-learning A descriptive text Saturday, April 16 th , 2011 6 Post-Test Descriptive text test Wednesday, April 20 th , 2001 55 4 Then, I scored the result of the test. 5 I determined the means of the result of the two groups. 6 I compared the two means by using the t-test formula. 7 I consulted the t-value with the critical t-value at the 5 percent alpha level of significance. 8 Finally, I draw a conclusion. The figure of procedures of the experiment can be described in the figure below: Figure 3.2 Procedure of Experiment Experimental Group T-test formula The result is compared with the result of the experimental group The result is compared with the result of the control group Post- T t Control Group Pre-Test Treatment : Learn descriptive text by Using pictures Treatment : Learn descriptive text by using Five-Minute A ti iti T-test formula 56

3.5 Statement of Hypothesis