S ING 0907440 Chapter3
CHAPTER III
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This chapter describes the procedures of the study in order to find out the answers of the two questions previously stated in chapter one. The chapter covers research design, the instrument, population and sample, and data analysis.
3.1 Research Design
This study is conducted through Classroom Action Research (CAR)
method. Kemmis and Mc Taggart (1998, p.15) state that “action research is an
action which is conducted to inquire self-reflective and improve his or her instruction by evaluating his or her own practice”. Ebutt (1985, cited in Hopkins,
2008, p.48) states that “CAR is the effort to improve the teaching learning process by a series of practical actions and to reflect toward the result of actions”. This
design is used when teachers have specific educational problems to solve in particular scope in educationa setting such as classroom.
According to Mettetal (2003), Classroom Action Research (CAR) is a way for instructor to discover what work best in their own classroom situation. According to Alwasilah (2011), he also states that Classroom Action Research helps both teacher and students to improve their performance. Thus, by using this method, it is expected that this study can investigate, analyze, and explain students’ reading improvement using the scanning technique. Latief (2009) states that classroom action research involves repeated cycles. It means there is continuity from one cycle to the next cycle. Latief (2009) also supports that in each cycle includes plan, act (do), observe, and reflect. According to Kemmis and Mc Taggart (1990), there are four basic steps in the action research. They are planning, acting, observing, and reflecting.
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3.1.1 Planning
Planning refers to the proposed strategies to be developed and be used in the research. The researcher arranges the schedule of the research. In the planning, the researcher explains what, why, where, who, and how to concern the action. The schedule of research activity as follows:
Table 3.1 Research Schedule
No Plan Activity Week
2 3 4 5 6 7
1 Preparation
Arranging action Plan X
Arranging research instrument X
Arranging schedule and task X
Preparing for class and media X
2 Implementation
Implementing Action for cycle 1 X
X
X X
Implementing Action for cycle 2 X
X
X X
3 Arrangement of Research Report
Formulating research report X
Arranging research report X
Planning is arranged based on the reflective observation result, such as the
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this activity, the teacher will get the general description about the problem in the class. Then, the teacher and the observer do the observation of learning process in
the classroom. The observation focuses on students’ and teacher’ attitudes in learning. The teacher’s attitude is seen from her/his way in helping students to learn. For example, the researcher notes the following things:
1. How the teacher starts the lesson.
2. How the teacher helps students (a) to understand the content/meaning of the text and the way to reveal the meaning (the way in arranging the sentences, spell the words, pronounce the words), (b) to communicate by using the expressions studied. (c) to overcome the learning difficulties and motivate them to participate in the classroom.
3. How the teacher manages the class, such as siting arrangement, light control, volume, and activities.
4. How students respond the teacher’ efforts. 5. Other theoretical things that necessary to note.
The researcher conducts collaborative research where teacher and observer are two different people. It is intended for maintaining the objectivity in measuring, valuing, and deciding actions in achieving the best result. In implementing the action research, the researcher performs as a teacher while the English teacher performs as an observer.
3.1.2 Acting
Acting is which the teachers put the plan into actions in order to collect information or data during teaching and learning process. According to Latief (2009), he states that in this step, all activities made in scenario are implemented. The researcher acts the scenario of the research while the other teacher becomes the observer. Scanning technique is used in the scenario of the research.
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3.1.3 Observing
Observing refers to the observation of the phenomenon occured in the class. In observing, the data and the problem is gained through an observation sheet in every meeting. The aim of observation itself is to collect the data which become the indicators of success as an impact of the action that had been planed before (Kemmis & McTaggart, 1988 in Burns 2010)
3.1.4 Reflecting
Reflecting reflects the previous action or treatments for the next cycle. In this step, the researcher and the teacher analyzes the data and make the conclusion act based on the data gathered then compares them to the criteria of success (Latief, 2009). In this step, the researcher and the observer or teacher discuss the teaching and learning process which has done by the researcher. If there is a weakness in the previous action, the researcher and observer discuss for the improvement in the next meeting. The reflection’ result or conclusion is used as the source for the next action cycle.
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Figure 3.1. Cycle of classroom Action Research adapted from Kemmis and McTaggart (1990)
The research is carried out by a teacher who is also the researcher and the teacher as the observer. This collaboration gives contribution to this study.
3.2. Participants of the Research
The subject of the research is the ninth grade students at a junior high school in Bandung. The class consists of 31 students; 14 males and 17 females. This grade is chosen because they will face some examinations and they need to focus on reading the text and answering the questions. The technique is needed to help them in comprehending the text. So, the use of scanning technique is employed in order to help them to read and to answer the questions.
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3.3 Data Collection
To collect the data, the researcher allocates the time in six weeks to conduct the observations and treatments. English is taught twice a week in the school. Thus, the researcher takes two weeks for each cycle. The time table in collecting the data is as follows:
Table 3.2 Teaching Schedule
No Activities Time
Cycle 1
2
1st Meeting
Topic: Going to the zoo (Report text)
25 October 2013
3 2nd Meeting
Topic : Be careful (Report text) 30 October 2013
4
3rd Meeting
Topic : Let’s plant the tree
(Report text)
1 November 2013
5 4th Meeting
Topic : Fresh Fruit (Report text) 6 November2013 Cycle 2
6 1st Meeting
Topic : I like sport (Report text) 8 November 2013
7
2nd Meeting
Topic : Public places (Report text)
13 November 2013
8 3rd Meeting
Topic : Vehicles (Report text) 15 November 2013
9
4th Meeting
Topic : The Beautiful Flower (Report Text)
(7)
The researcher also uses four instruments. They are test, observation sheet, questionnaire and documentation.
3.3.1 Observation
Observation is the act of collecting data about the performance of a subject through five senses; sight, smelling, hearing, touching, and taste (Arikunto, 2006). Observation sheet is used in during the teaching and learning process. Observation sheet can be used to critically evaluate the learning process and identify the actual data of the effectiveness strategies and techniques employed in the class (Olsen, 2008). Moreover, observation sheet can also be used to document the phenomenon occured while using scanning technique and determine the strategies for the next cycle. There is an observer in this study. The researcher becomes a teacher and the teacher becomes an observer.
3.3.2 Test
Test consists of some questions based on the text that is given to students in the teaching learning process. Students have to finish doing the task with the limited time.
3.3.3 Questionnaire
Questionnaire is given after conducting the cycle. In this study, this is
aimed for observing students’ responses toward the use of scanning technique in
the classroom. The questionnaire consists of 10 questions about the use of scanning technique.
3.3.4 Documentation
Documentation in this study is to find out the data that are related to the scanning technique that will be used to help students to enhance their reading comprehension.
(8)
3.4 Research Procedure
The research involved several steps described below: 3.4.1 Preparation
Before applying all procedures, the researcher makes the preparation.
After that, the teacher collects the data of students’ and class’ condition. The data are obtained from teacher’s note and observation. That is done for make sure that class and students are ready to observe and to apply the cycle. Teacher’s note and
observation explained that many students get difficulties in reading text especially report text, and also many students get low score in English examination, especially in reading examination.
3.4.2 Planning
After making preparation, teacher arranges the concept of the cycle in this step.Teacher also makes a lesson plan with the scanning technique included. The other instruments like worksheets and observation sheets are prepared too. The researcher and the teacher discuss the topic of discussion and time of study. Furthermore, the topic and material are discussed by the observer and teacher.
3.4.3 Acting
In this step, the researcher applies the planning of the research and it is observed by the observer. Students and the teacher do the activities in the classroom based on the planning that has been made before by the teacher. However, sometimes the activities that have been planned by the teacher do not fit the planning because the condition of the classroom affects in applying the planning. The scanning technique is used in the activities. There are some things that included in the acting step. The steps are:
a. Teaching Material
The teacher uses 17 different report texts that are taken from internet and the recomended book by the school. The text is no more than 250 words.
(9)
b. Teaching Method
In each cycle, the teacher uses lecturing method and scanning technique. Lecturing method is used when the teacher explains about the scanning technique and report texts. Besides that, Scanning technique is used when students work in group and do the exercise.
c. Evaluation
At the end of the lesson, the teacher gives the evaluation. The evaluation system is individual.
3.4.4 Analyzing and Reflecting
The researcher and the observer analyze and reflect the planning and acting step by analyzing the result of observation in the class. After that, the lesson plan is revised by the observer and the teacher. It is intended to find out the weakness in the last activities before formulating the activities for the next cycle.
3.4.5 Feedback Discussion
In this session, the teacher and the observer do the feedback discussion. That is a reflective collaboration between the researcher and observer toward the class activities. They do that based on the observation sheets during the acting step.
3.5 Data Analysis
In the research, the data are obtained through observation sheets, tests, and questionnaire. Before analyzing, the data are transcribed and coded to make the analysis easier. According to Alwasilah (2011), he stated that there are some benefits of coding the data. First, it helps the researcher to simplify phenomena identification. Second, it helps the researcher to count the frequent of phenomenon emerging. Third, it helps the researcher to see the tendency of the findings. Fourth, it helps the researcher to organize the categorizations and
(10)
subcategorization of the inventions. After coded, the data are analyzed using qualitative data analysis.
Meanwhile, students’ level of mastery in reading comprehension is determined based on criteria proposed by Masidjo (1995:153) that will use criteria referenced evaluation type 1. Furthermore, Masidjo states that students would be
considered successful if students’ score could attain at least 6,5 of the maximum
score (10). It means the ideal passing score is at least 65. However, this study will be stopped when 90% of students, subject of this study, get 75 as the minimal score for their reading comprehension according to the KKM (the passing criterion) of the school. The criteria can be seen in the following table.
Table 3.3
The Criteria of Reading Score
It means:
Excellent : those students who are able toanswer the test items and get score between 90 - 100
Very good : those students who are able to answer the test items and get score between 80 - 89
Good : those students who are able to answer the test items and get score between 65 - 79
Sufficient : those students who are able to answer the test items and get score between 55 - 64
Insufficient : those students who are able to answer the test items and get score less than 5
90 - 100 = Excellent 80 - 89 = Very good 65 - 79 = Good 55 - 64 = Sufficient
(11)
Furthermore, Alwasilah (2011) states that action research is very qualitative seen from the research problems and research purposes. There are three steps in analyzing the data. Those are data reduction, data display, and conclusion (Miles and Huberman, 1984 as cited in Alwasilah, 2011).
a. Data Reduction
Data reduction is a process of selecting data that are relevant to the research questions (Alwasilah, 2011). Reduction is done for the data that are not necessary. It is to make the analysis easier. In this study, the data of students who do not follow the whole process of scanning technique treatments are reduced. b. Data Display
The result of data analysis is displayed in form of table and graph to show the result briefly and clearly. It is explained descriptively. Alwasilah (2011) states that descriptive technique is chosen because the data acquired in this study are qualitaive (non numeric), not quantitative (numeric) and need to be given the interpretation.
c. Conclusion
The last step after displaying the result of the research is making conclusion related to research questions. The conclusion is going to be described in chapter 5.
(1)
3.3 Data Collection
To collect the data, the researcher allocates the time in six weeks to conduct the observations and treatments. English is taught twice a week in the school. Thus, the researcher takes two weeks for each cycle. The time table in collecting the data is as follows:
Table 3.2 Teaching Schedule
No Activities Time
Cycle 1
2
1st Meeting
Topic: Going to the zoo (Report text)
25 October 2013
3 2nd Meeting
Topic : Be careful (Report text) 30 October 2013
4
3rd Meeting
Topic : Let’s plant the tree (Report text)
1 November 2013
5 4th Meeting
Topic : Fresh Fruit (Report text) 6 November2013 Cycle 2
6 1st Meeting
Topic : I like sport (Report text) 8 November 2013
7
2nd Meeting
Topic : Public places (Report text)
13 November 2013
8 3rd Meeting
Topic : Vehicles (Report text) 15 November 2013
9
4th Meeting
Topic : The Beautiful Flower (Report Text)
(2)
The researcher also uses four instruments. They are test, observation sheet, questionnaire and documentation.
3.3.1 Observation
Observation is the act of collecting data about the performance of a subject through five senses; sight, smelling, hearing, touching, and taste (Arikunto, 2006). Observation sheet is used in during the teaching and learning process. Observation sheet can be used to critically evaluate the learning process and identify the actual data of the effectiveness strategies and techniques employed in the class (Olsen, 2008). Moreover, observation sheet can also be used to document the phenomenon occured while using scanning technique and determine the strategies for the next cycle. There is an observer in this study. The researcher becomes a teacher and the teacher becomes an observer.
3.3.2 Test
Test consists of some questions based on the text that is given to students in the teaching learning process. Students have to finish doing the task with the limited time.
3.3.3 Questionnaire
Questionnaire is given after conducting the cycle. In this study, this is aimed for observing students’ responses toward the use of scanning technique in the classroom. The questionnaire consists of 10 questions about the use of scanning technique.
3.3.4 Documentation
Documentation in this study is to find out the data that are related to the scanning technique that will be used to help students to enhance their reading comprehension.
(3)
3.4 Research Procedure
The research involved several steps described below:
3.4.1 Preparation
Before applying all procedures, the researcher makes the preparation. After that, the teacher collects the data of students’ and class’ condition. The data are obtained from teacher’s note and observation. That is done for make sure that class and students are ready to observe and to apply the cycle. Teacher’s note and observation explained that many students get difficulties in reading text especially report text, and also many students get low score in English examination, especially in reading examination.
3.4.2 Planning
After making preparation, teacher arranges the concept of the cycle in this step.Teacher also makes a lesson plan with the scanning technique included. The other instruments like worksheets and observation sheets are prepared too. The researcher and the teacher discuss the topic of discussion and time of study. Furthermore, the topic and material are discussed by the observer and teacher.
3.4.3 Acting
In this step, the researcher applies the planning of the research and it is observed by the observer. Students and the teacher do the activities in the classroom based on the planning that has been made before by the teacher. However, sometimes the activities that have been planned by the teacher do not fit the planning because the condition of the classroom affects in applying the planning. The scanning technique is used in the activities. There are some things that included in the acting step. The steps are:
a. Teaching Material
The teacher uses 17 different report texts that are taken from internet and the recomended book by the school. The text is no more than 250 words.
(4)
b. Teaching Method
In each cycle, the teacher uses lecturing method and scanning technique. Lecturing method is used when the teacher explains about the scanning technique and report texts. Besides that, Scanning technique is used when students work in group and do the exercise.
c. Evaluation
At the end of the lesson, the teacher gives the evaluation. The evaluation system is individual.
3.4.4 Analyzing and Reflecting
The researcher and the observer analyze and reflect the planning and acting step by analyzing the result of observation in the class. After that, the lesson plan is revised by the observer and the teacher. It is intended to find out the weakness in the last activities before formulating the activities for the next cycle.
3.4.5 Feedback Discussion
In this session, the teacher and the observer do the feedback discussion. That is a reflective collaboration between the researcher and observer toward the class activities. They do that based on the observation sheets during the acting step.
3.5 Data Analysis
In the research, the data are obtained through observation sheets, tests, and questionnaire. Before analyzing, the data are transcribed and coded to make the analysis easier. According to Alwasilah (2011), he stated that there are some benefits of coding the data. First, it helps the researcher to simplify phenomena identification. Second, it helps the researcher to count the frequent of phenomenon emerging. Third, it helps the researcher to see the tendency of the findings. Fourth, it helps the researcher to organize the categorizations and
(5)
subcategorization of the inventions. After coded, the data are analyzed using qualitative data analysis.
Meanwhile, students’ level of mastery in reading comprehension is determined based on criteria proposed by Masidjo (1995:153) that will use criteria referenced evaluation type 1. Furthermore, Masidjo states that students would be considered successful if students’ score could attain at least 6,5 of the maximum score (10). It means the ideal passing score is at least 65. However, this study will be stopped when 90% of students, subject of this study, get 75 as the minimal score for their reading comprehension according to the KKM (the passing criterion) of the school. The criteria can be seen in the following table.
Table 3.3
The Criteria of Reading Score
It means:
Excellent : those students who are able toanswer the test items and get score between 90 - 100
Very good : those students who are able to answer the test items and get score between 80 - 89
Good : those students who are able to answer the test items and get score between 65 - 79
Sufficient : those students who are able to answer the test items and get score between 55 - 64
Insufficient : those students who are able to answer the test items and get score less than 5
90 - 100 = Excellent 80 - 89 = Very good 65 - 79 = Good 55 - 64 = Sufficient Less than 55 = Insufficient
(6)
Furthermore, Alwasilah (2011) states that action research is very qualitative seen from the research problems and research purposes. There are three steps in analyzing the data. Those are data reduction, data display, and conclusion (Miles and Huberman, 1984 as cited in Alwasilah, 2011).
a. Data Reduction
Data reduction is a process of selecting data that are relevant to the research questions (Alwasilah, 2011). Reduction is done for the data that are not necessary. It is to make the analysis easier. In this study, the data of students who do not follow the whole process of scanning technique treatments are reduced.
b. Data Display
The result of data analysis is displayed in form of table and graph to show the result briefly and clearly. It is explained descriptively. Alwasilah (2011) states that descriptive technique is chosen because the data acquired in this study are qualitaive (non numeric), not quantitative (numeric) and need to be given the interpretation.
c. Conclusion
The last step after displaying the result of the research is making conclusion related to research questions. The conclusion is going to be described in chapter 5.