CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHOD
3.1. The Research Framework
This research is done in the framework of a qualitative descriptive research type. Qualitative researches are based on the assumption that reality is the result of
interactions between men. Reality is not what is out there in the ‘real world’; reality is what men make out of the so-called the real world. Men use symbols particularly
language to interact, to communicate these “reality” or meaning, between them. Therefore to get the meaning of the real world, any researcher is to study these
symbols in the environment they are used; and how they are used in the interaction between men. This viewpoint is introduced and maintained by the school of thought
in social sciences that is called symbolic interactionists. The leading figures in symbolic interactionists are Dewey, Cooley, Parks, Mead, and particularly Blumer,
who is regarded as the founder of this school of thought Berg 2007: 8. This symbolic interactionists’ view corresponds to the nature of this research.
The writer seeks to establish the ways the presidents make reality out of ‘the real world’ and how they communicate their realities in their interaction with their
audiences using linguistic symbols resources available in English. To do this, the writer uses the Attitude sub-system of Appraisal Theory to analyse appraisal elements
in the inaugural speeches and to uncover the realitiesmeaning communicated by the
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Universitas Sumatera Utara
presidents. This obtaining meaning purpose corresponds to Berg’s explanation that qualitative researches
“… allow researches to share in their understandings and perceptions of others
and to explore how people structure and give meaning to their daily lives. Researches using qualitative techniques examine how people learn about and
make sense of themselves and others” op.cit: 8-9. As for the nature of its qualitative-ness, this research is descriptive in that it
describes the appraisals in the texts as they are without any further action such as comparing or contrasting; it delimitates itself only as a description of the phenomena
being researched.
3.2. The Data