developmental studies. In this field, two complementary research designs have emerged and been frequently used: the longitudinal design and cross-sectional
design Ary, Jacob, Razavieh, 1990; Wiersma, 1995. Each design has its own strengths and weaknesses. Considering the time and financial constraints and the
nature of the study, the writer adopted cross-sectional design. In cross sectional research, the data are collected at one point in time and
the data collection process is conducted within a short time Borg Gall, 1983, p. 407; Ary, Jacobs, Sorensen, 2010, p. 379. This is to describe the relationship
between variables at the time of study. It is different from longitudinal research
which is conducted continuously during a period of time. Cross sectional design is comparatively quicker to conduct and cheaper to administer because it allows the
collection of data at one point in time point time approach from different samples representing different groups or sub-populations within some given
population. Cross sectional design is large-scale in nature: it permits the use of
different samples within a given. It allows different groups to be compared, charting a population-wide pattern of development. It also allows the use of
inferential statistics to assess whether or not the differences between one and the other groups are significant. Therefore, it allow only macro-level analysis and
cannot be used to track changes that happen in individuals Cohen, Manion, Morrison, 2000, p. 175.
Based on statements above, the writer concluded that a cross sectional study is an observational study in which exposure and disease are determined at
the same point in time in a given population in this study. In the first research question, the writer used quantitative research design to discover the
developmental pattern of the acquisition of noun phrase by Indonesian Learners by using written test. Next, the quantitative data result was also described whether
there are differences of the developmental pattern of the acquisition of noun phrase at three groups. The study also used qualitative data to support the primary
data. This mix method study would be beneficial to discover the developmental pattern of the acquisition of noun phrase by Indonesian EFL learners and find out
the differences between three different groups.
3.2 Nature of Data
This research was a mixed-method design. The writer conducted quantitative research data which use measurement to analyze data and qualitative
research data through interview for descriptive analysis. To conduct the quantitative research data, the data should be numerical because it measures
objective fact through measurement Neuman, 2006, p. 13. In order to do so, the data obtained from the written test were numerical data in data analysis and make
inferences. After the numerical data will be obtained, the qualitative research data will
be conducted to gather descriptive data. The writer interviewed some students to gather more information and description about their thoughts, feelings,
behaviours, and perception about the noun phrase materials on structure class. The data result used to confirm, support, and complete the results of the written
test. These characteristics show the principles of conducting mixed-method design where the quantitative and qualitative data were gathered during the study and
where the numerical and descriptive data supported each other to gain deeper information about the developmental pattern of the acquisition of noun phrase and
whether there are significant differences between three different groups. In term of trustworthiness, the data is benefical for triangulation. To gather real
information about the acquisition of the noun phrase, the EFL learners were given freedom to share their experiences during the learning materials of noun phrase in
the interview. Therefore, mixed method was used to gain the differences of the acquisition of the noun phrase by EFL learners at three different groups; freshmen
sophomore and junior students. The quantitative data could provide general information or developmental pattern of the population which were supported by
the descriptive qualitative data as secondary data.
3.3 Research Instruments
Owing the characteristic of mixed-method research design, the research instruments were mainly written test and interview. These instruments were
carefully designed to discover the developmental pattern of the acquisition of noun phrase by Indonesian EFL learners at three different group and to find out
the differences between each group. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
The instrument consist of written test item to the first research question, it is going to ascertain the acquisition of noun phrases by giving 12 questions which
consist of noun phrase identification and noun phrase translation. It was also supported by unstructured interview of some learners later.
3.3.1 Written Test
The design of the assessment instrument involves componential analysis of the acquisition of noun phrase which consist of identifying and translating, the
design of the format of the test, and the selection of the sentential contexts which present the tested identification knowledge and rendering the noun phrase.
As mentioned earlier, the design of the instrument used to assess the acquisition both identifying and rendering the noun phrase by three different
groups involves the selection of the target noun phrase, the use of noun phrase which related to accounting fields is presented in table 3.1. Twelve questions from
accounting field which consist of twenty four noun phrase were selected. Table 3.1. The noun phrase based on the research instrument
No Noun Phrase
1 Computers
2 Data-processing equipment
3 A balance sheet
4 Two sides that must always be in balance
5 Business transaction
6 Economic events that affect the financial position of a business entity
7 The purpose of balance sheet
8 The financial position of business on certain date
9 An audit
10 The reliability of the accounting report
11 The solution to this problem
