16 the topic p. 9. Another expert says that writing is a skill which can be learned
and it is a hard work for almost everyone who learns it Longan, 1996, p. 12. Zamel 1982 also adds that writing is a process which contains its technique in it.
The technique of writing relates to the composition of writing such as creating, formulating and making perfect of one’s ideas. There is also revision in the
writing process in which the students learn it from the perspective that someone else can read their writing p. 195.
Grabowski 1996, p. 75 also states the definition of writing. Writing, as compared to speaking can be seen as a more standardized
system which must be acquired through special instruction. Mastery of this standard system is an important prerequisite of cultural and educational
participation and the maintenance of one’s rights and duties…The fact that writing is more standardized than speaking allows for a higher degree of
sanctions when people deviate from that standard as cited in Weigle, 2002, p. 4
B. Theoretical Framework
This research focuses on students’ perception on the use of blogs in Basic Writing class. In attempting to understand and discover the results of this study,
the researcher also needs to find the theories related to this topic’s keywords. They are perception, blog and Basic Writing.
Based on the theories discussed in the theoretical description, the researcher can see obviously that perception relates to someone’s feeling after he or she
experiences something Weisman, 1980. The perception is also not merely affected by someone’s interest, but also by the motivation, desires, personal
characteristics, and attitude that he or she has Vernon 1972; Robbins, 2005. The environment which surrounds her or him can also take an essential role in
17 affecting their perception Kreitner and Kinicky, 2008. Moreover, people also
have expectations in what they see and learn about the target of their interpretation. This kind of expectation can also affect them in deciding what they
feel about something which can also affect their perception. Since this research discusses the students’ perception, it is also as the same as what the students in
Basic Writing class feel. Their perception can be also affected by their own feeling of using blogs in that class or by the environment such as their friends, the
condition of class, the activities in the class, and even the lecturer in that class. The students’ expectation also takes an important role in their perception. When
they expect something high, but in fact what they imagine is different from what they obtain, it can automatically change their perception about the class itself.
Then, Basic Writing class is the course which focuses on the basic of writing for the first semester students. As stated in the theoretical description,
writing is one of the important components in language learning Sampath and Zalipour, 2010. It cannot be separated from the process of learning language
especially in this case in learning English language. It is an activity which needs someone’s skill Longan, 1996. It also helps the writer to share his or her
opinions in the form of writing. Along with the era development, the people’s way in writing also changes. The way of the teachers in teaching the writing activity
also changes. In this virtual era, technology clearly takes an essential role. It also affects the learning process in Basic Writing class.
Two Basic Writing classes, which were classes C and F, used the technology in delivering the material
. The classes used blogs as media for them to
18 assist the students to learn the writing. Based on the theories stated in the
theoretical description, it can be known that a blog is an online diary that can contain even pictures, audios and videos in it Lewis, 2004; Dudeney and Hockly,
2007. There are also some benefits in the use of blogs. In a blog, someone can post their writing and give comments on his or her friends’ writing Drexler,
Dawson, and Fredig, 2007; Kirk, Manatee, and Johson, 2009. Related to the use of blogs in language learning and teaching, blogs can also attract students’
attention and motivation in learning writing since the blogs provide many features for students’ learning such as pictures, videos, audio, and attractive backgrounds
Sawmiller, 2010, Fageeh, 2011. Moreover, blogs provide opportunities for students to practice writing, analyze their content of writing, express themselves
in writing, and develop their critical thinking skills on writing Tseng, 2008; Nepomuceno, 2011. Students can feel motivated and more cautious in writing
when their writing is published in blogs. They can also enjoy using blogs and feel confident in writing Nepomuceno, 2011; Walker, 2005. However, there are also
some disadvantages in using blogs such as disturbance from the outside, issues of privacy, plagiarism and difficulty in maintaining blogs everyday Tseng, 2008.
Then, it is also stated in the theories that educators’ roles in the implementation of media are essential Venkatsatish, 2012. Based on these theories, the researcher
is going to construct the instruments which refer to the implementation, factors that affect students’ perception in learning and also students’ personal evaluation
to inquire further into the students’ perception on the use of blogs in Basic Writing classes C and F.
19
CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
In this chapter, the researcher discusses the methodology used in conducting the research. The research methodology consists of six parts. They are research
method, research setting, research participants, instruments and data gathering technique, data analysis technique and research procedure.
A. Research Method
This research used survey research in obtaining the information needed to answer the research questions related to the students’ perception on the use of
blogs in Basic Writing class. “Surveys are used to measure attitudes, opinions, or achievements – any number of variables in natural setting” Wiersma, 1995:
169. Survey research is one of the types of quantitative research which is conducted by using numerical system in gathering the data. It means that the data
collection obtained from the respondents should be gathered by using numbers. In gathering the information, the method used is also organized and systematic. The
aim is to understand and predict someone’s behavior. Concisely, it could be said that survey research is conducted numerically and systematically Tull and
Albaum, 1973: 2-3. Survey was also the appropriate and essential method used in conducting
this research. It was because survey research helped the researcher to produce the data which answered the research questions related to the students’ perception on
