1.22. Research Design
As stated before in the beginning of this chapter concerning methods, the research design for methods used to conduct the research consist of research
approaches and research methods. The research design of research approaches and research methods will be described in the following section.
1.22.1. Research Approaches for the Research
In order to analyse appropriateness of action case research approach to conduct the research. In the following Table 3.5 and Table 3.6 are listed the
characteristic of the research on each organisational context based on the characteristic of action case study approach in Table 3.1.
Figure 3.4 The Research Approaches for This Research
ACTION CASE 1 in Salford
University context
A Web based teaching and
learning module at University of Salford
ACTION CASE 2 in Sanata Dharma
University context A simple Web
based teaching and learning module at
Unversitas. of Sanata Dharma
Literature Review
A unified conceptual
framework Maturity
with IT
A unified conceptual
framework Maturity
with IT
Findings Guidelines
Findings Guidelines
RESEARCH QUESTION How does Web-based teaching and
learning technology help or support to deliver teaching in
Salford University? and What are enabling and inhibiting
characteristics associated with the implementation of Web-based
teaching and learning technology in Salford University?
RESEARCH QUESTION How does Web-based teaching and
learning Technology help or support to deliver teaching in
Sanata Dharma University? and What are enabling and inhibiting
characteristics associated with the implementation of Web-based
teaching and learning technology in Sanata Dharma University?
Table 3.5 Characteristic of the Action Case in Salford University Context
Factor Attribute
Action case concern Action case in Salford University
context
Suitability Research design
Declare a framework of idea and a methodology.
Understanding of the usage of Web- based
teaching and
learning technology based on the unified
conceptual framework. Researcher skills
The researcher
has skills and
experience to make an intervention. The researcher is a student following
a Web-based teaching and learning module guided by a lecturer who has
significant experiences using the technology.
Interpretation Richness
The context of the research is rich enough to provide understanding.
The scope of the research involves some students in the module who has
different experiences and the lecturer who is teaching using the technology
in the real implementation.
Focus The research question is sufficiently
focused. The research questions focus on the
potential usage, and enabling and inhibiting
characteristic of
the technology in organisation context.
Intervention Scale
The small
scale intervention,
comprising scope time a short to medium duration, of the subject for
research manageable. The time scale is small duration 6
month limited on one module using the technology.
Participation style Less than full participation can be
expected from
the organisation
member. The researcher is a student when he
conducts the research to find the effective usage of the technology
together with the fellow students under supervision from the lecturer.
Critical impact Requirement of a low planned level
of critical approach. The current situation is not perceived
as requiring a critical intervention. Practicability
Economics Sufficient financial support and
researcher time is available. The department, where the researcher
are studying, provide Internet access facilities to follow the Web-based
teaching and learning technology supported by time allocation to
follow the module.
Access Access can be negotiated with
stakeholder. The stakeholders consist of the fellow
students and the lecturer Politics
There is sufficient backing for action and case component.
The researcher is a student when he conducts the research supported by
the lecturer. Control
The research
project can
be controlled and monitored against the
research plan such using the research framework.
The participants, consist of the fellow students and the lecturer, always
conduct face-to-face meeting to monitor and control the progress.
Based on the justification of the methodology given in the section 3.3 and the characteristic of the action case research approaches on each organisational context
listed on Table 3.5 and Table 3.6, this research will use two action case research approaches to answer the research questions as depicted in Figure 3.4. One research
will be conducted in Salford University context and the other will be conducted in Sanata Dharma University context. Although there are two action cases in different
context, both of the action case researches have a tight relationship. The findings and guidelines as the results of understanding of the first action case research will be used
to conduct a relatively small intervention to gain understanding of the second action case research context which might contribute to the knowledge of Web based teaching
and learning implementation. Considering that the two action case researches will be conducted in different organisation contexts, there are some factors, which may be
considered affecting the difference results of the two action case research. These factors are depicted in Table 3.7.
Table 3.6 Characteristic of the Action Case in Sanata Dharma University Context
Factor Attribute
Action case concern Action case in
Sanata Dharma
University context
Suitability Research design
Declare a framework of idea and a methodology.
Understanding of the usage Web- based
teaching and
learning technology based on the unified
conceptual framework. Researcher skills
The researcher
has skills and
experience to make an intervention. The researcher is a lecturer in
traditional methods and he has followed a Web-based teaching and
learning module as a student guided by the lecturer who has significant
experiences using the technology.
Interpretation Richness
The context of the research is rich enough to provide understanding.
The scope of the research involves some students in the module and the
researcher who is teaching using the technology supported by the college
lecturers in the real implementation in different organisation context.
Focus The research question is sufficiently
focused. The research questions focus on the
potential usage, and enabling and inhibiting
characteristic of
the technology in organisation context.
Intervention Scale
The small
scale intervention,
comprising scope time a short to medium duration, of the subject for
research manageable. The time scale is small duration 3
month limited on one simple module using the technology.
Participation style Less than full participation can be
expected from
the organisation
member. The researcher as a lecturer will try
to introduce the potential usage of the technology for some students and
lecturer in a department Critical impact
Requirement of a low planned level of critical approach.
The current situation is not perceived as requiring a critical intervention
Practicability Economics
Sufficient financial support and researcher time is available.
The department, where the researcher is teaching, provides Internet access
facilities to the participants who follow the Web-based teaching and
learning technology together with time allocation to follow the module.
Access Access can be negotiated with
stakeholder. The stakeholders consist of some
students, college lecturers and course tutor.
Politics There is sufficient backing for action
and case component. The researcher is as a lecturer when
he is conducting the research
supported by the course tutor and the college lecturers.
Control The
research project
can be
controlled and monitored against the research plan such using the research
framework. The researcher supported by the
college lecturer tries to monitor and observe the participant activity.
Table 3.7 Factors Affecting the Difference Results of the Two Actions Case Research
Factors Action case in
Salford
University context Action case in
Sanata Dharma
University context
Students degree Master degree
Undergraduate degree Students role
As students following a module as part of students course requirement
assessed As volunteer students following a
module as additional to students course requirement non-assessed
Subject Virtual Organising VO module
non technical subject Database design DB module
more technical subject Length of research
6 months 3 months joined in the module online
3 months two weeks joined in the module online
Virtual Learning Environment VLE
Learningspace see appendix A Blackboard see appendix B
Material Provider supporter • Author
• Web-developer • Online Support
• Face-to-face support • The lecturer of VO module
• The lecturer of VO module • The lecturer of VO module
• The lecturer of VO module • The lecturer of DB moduleresearcher
• The lecturer of DB moduleresearcher • The lecturer of DB moduleresearcher
• The college lecturer Internet access facility
Free Considered free with limitation
Culture Students with diversity culture
Students with Indonesian culture
1.22.2. Research Methods for the Research