Research Method RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

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CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

In this chapter, I present detailed information about the method to conduct the study. The method discussed is used to answer the research questions mentioned in Chapter I. The discussion of this chapter covers research method, research participants, data gathering techniques, data analysis techniques, and research procedures.

A. Research Method

In order to find out the CALL principles applied in a web-based Sentence Writing class, determine the effect of the application of the CALL principles to the student s‟ learning achievement, as well as investigate the way the application enhances the students‟ learning achievement, this study implemented mixed methods research, combining both qualitative and quantitative research designs. Creswell and Plano Clark 2011, as cited in Creswell 2012: 535, define a mixed methods research design as “a procedure for collecting, analyzing, and “mixing” both quantitative and qualitative methods in a single study or a series of studies to understand a research problem.” Creswell 2012 point out several reasons for using a mixed methods design to conduct a study, which are to offer a better understanding of research problem, provide an alternative perspective in a study, and complement one type of research qualitative or quantitative when it is not enough to address the research problem or answer the research questions. Mixed methods research was a suitable design to use in the study because it gave a better understanding of research problem based on the advantages offered by both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data, according to Creswell 2012, bring in specific numbers that can be statistically analyzed, can produce results to assess the frequency and scale of trends, and can provide useful information required to describe trends about a large number of people. Related to the nature of data, the quantitative data in this study were in the forms of percentages and writing scores, gathered from the closed-ended items in the questionnaire and the teacher‟s record of the students‟ writing scores. The numeric data were used for statistical analysis and able to explain the intensity of the application of CALL principles in a web-based Sentence Writing class as well as its effec t on enhancing the students‟ writing achievement involving a large number of participants. In addition, Creswell 2012 also states that qualitative data present actual words of people in the study. The qualitative data in this study were expressed in words, collected from the interview and the open-ended item of the questionnaire. The text information was used to offer different points of view on the topic studied and provide a different-angled picture of the situation of the implementation, not only from one participant but many. In addition, the mixed methods research was implemented in the study so that each type of research could complement each other in addressing the research problems. Related to this, the present study specifically employed the sequential strategies. According to Creswell 2003, sequential strategies are used to “elaborate on or expand the findings of one method with another method” p.16. As in the study, the data gathered from questionnaire, statistical test from the teacher‟s documents of students‟ scores, and interview were used to complete and support each method‟s findings. To answer the first research question about the CALL principles applied and their intensity in a web-based Sentence Writing class, the quantitative method through closed-ended questionnaire was used. The results would be able to cover all participants‟ responses and show the dominant CALL principles applied statistically. Then, followed by the qualitative method through in-depth interviews, the results would provide a more thorough and specific understanding on the intensity of the CALL principles applied in the web- based Sentence Writing class from the students‟ perspective. Also, to answer the second research question, a statistical t-test using the quanti tative data gathered from the teacher‟s documents of the students‟ scores would provide a statistical result for data analysis to investigate whether the application of the CALL principles in the web-based Sentence Writing class enhanced the students‟ learning achievement. Then, the qualitative methods through open-ended questionnaire and followed by interviews could give a description of the enhancement to the students‟ writing based on the student respondents‟ and interviewees‟ experiences. The qualitative methods were also used to answer the third research question about how the application of the CALL principles in the web- based Sentence Writing class enhances the students‟ writing achievement. In brief, by applying the mixed methods research in the study, the quantitative and qualitative methods provided two types of data that complement each other for analysis, to better answer the research problems about the CALL principles application in a web-based Sentence Writing class.

B. Research Design