Rizky Fajarrani, 2013 COMING OF AGE: AN ANALYSIS OF A YOUNG ADULT CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IN ELLEN HOPKINS’
YOUNG ADULT NOVEL CRANK Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
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| perpustakaan.upi.edu
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
This chapter focuses on the research methodology which explains the method applied in the present research. It revolves around the subject of the study,
the research questions, the research methodology, the technique of data analysis, the context of the research, and the data presentation.
3.1 Subject of the Study
The study focuses on an analysis of a young adult novel which represents the ways coming of age issue is addressed in the novel Crank by Ellen Hopkins.
The analysis is centered on the main character named Georgia who experiences some teenagers’ conflicts in her coming of age stage. The novel was chosen to be
analyzed because the novel portrays the life of a girl who is going through her teenagers’ life and facing some problems which change her become a more
mature girl than before. It is in line with the discussion of the research that revolves around the ways coming of age issues presented in young adult novel.
Rizky Fajarrani, 2013 COMING OF AGE: AN ANALYSIS OF A YOUNG ADULT CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IN ELLEN HOPKINS’
YOUNG ADULT NOVEL CRANK Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
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3.2 Research Question
This study raises one question, that is: 1
How is the issue coming of age addressed in the novel Crank by Ellen Hopkins?
3.3 Research Methodology
This present research is conducted using qualitative method due to the data used in this research are in the form of text. Qualitative method is a study
approach in which the researcher tends to explore the unknown variables, asks the broad and general questions to the participants, collects data of words, and reports
all the study in a subjective way Creswell, 2003, p. 12. The data which are in the form of words, phrases, and sentences are critically selected as textual evidences
to answer the research question. As mentioned by Alwasilah 2002, qualitative research principle
emphasizes that every finding is based on data; therefore findings are becoming more valid before stated as a theory. The data of qualitative method are used to
develop concepts and theories that help people to understand the subject of the study Hancock, 2002, p.2. Hence, the data in this research are used to develop
the elaboration of concepts and theories which have been discussed in previous chapter.
Regarding to the procedure of the research, content analysis is applied in this research to analyze the issue of coming of age and identity in the novel
Rizky Fajarrani, 2013 COMING OF AGE: AN ANALYSIS OF A YOUNG ADULT CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IN ELLEN HOPKINS’
YOUNG ADULT NOVEL CRANK Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
| repository.upi.edu
| perpustakaan.upi.edu
Crank. Content analysis is a procedure for the categorisation of verbal or
behavioural data, for purposes of classification, summarisation and tabulation Hancock, 2002, p.21. Hancock 2002 further states that there are two levels in
content analysis; first is the manifest level or type of analysis and latent level of analysis.
Manifest level is the basic level of analysis which implies what was actually said with nothing read into it and nothing assumed about it Hancock, 2002, p.21.
The second level is latent level of analysis or interpretative: it is concerned with what was meant by the response, what was inferred or implied Hancock, 2002,
p.21. Due to the application of content analysis, this research is conducted by passing through the two levels of analysis to analyze the issues of coming of age
and identity in the novel Crank. The technique of this research engages through the following steps:
Firstly, reading the novel carefully in attempt to understand and find out the issue presented in Ellen Hopkins’ Crank. Through the reading,
the textual evidences that reflect the coming of age of adolescents and identity are gathered from the novel.
Secondly, making the list of character’s encounters with other characters and the conflicts in the novel about the issue of coming of
age of adolescents and identity. The purpose of making this list was to analyze and gave textual evidences which were needed for the
research.
Rizky Fajarrani, 2013 COMING OF AGE: AN ANALYSIS OF A YOUNG ADULT CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IN ELLEN HOPKINS’
YOUNG ADULT NOVEL CRANK Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
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| perpustakaan.upi.edu
Thirdly, classifying t he character’s encounters with other characters
and the conflicts in the novel in relation to the issue of coming of age of adolescents based on the theory presented in the previous chapter.
Fourthly, writing brief notes in the highlighted textual evidences to simply identify
the textual evidences that are related to the issues of coming of age of adolescents and identity
of the character’s actions, conflicts, and encounters with other characters regarding her ways in
solving the conflicts of her coming of age period in the process to be mature.
Fifthly, analyzing the textual evidences and presenting the data of analysis framed
by the related theories that have been elaborated in the Chapter II to answer the research question. The primary theoretical
frameworks applied in this research are coming of age and identity, where the analysis is engaged with respect to the fact that genre of the
novel analyzed in this research is fantasy fiction.
Lately, discussing the findings and drawing conclusions.
3.4 Context of the Research
