Observation Checklist Instruments and Data Gathering Techniques

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3.4 Instruments and Data Gathering Techniques

The instruments employed in this research were observation checklist, questionnaire, and interview guide. The data gathering techniques employed were observation techniques, distributing and collecting questionnaire and interview technique. The roles of the instruments are explained in the following.

3.4.1 Observation Checklist

The observation checklists made was for 3 kinds of observations; the first was for the critical reading section, the second was for the critical writing section, and the last was for presentation session. The data gathering technique by using observation checklist was conducted to get the whole picture of critical reading and writing happened in class from what the researcher observed during the teaching and learning process. There were three different observations conducted in a single class because the integrated-skills course implemented is in two different sections; the critical reading section and critical writing section. Therefore, in order to gain the precise and complete data for each section, the researcher conducted three observations. For CRW 1 Class A, the critical reading section was on Monday at 2 p.m. and critical writing section was on Wednesday at 12 o’clock. Based on the topic raised, the observation was trying to figure out the implementation of critical review in Critical reading and Writing 1 class. The researcher was meant to discover and figure out the implementation of critical review in the class. The ability to provide a critical point of view was observed on 53 three different sections; the critical reading section, the critical writing section and the critical thinking section in the form of presentation session. Critical review as stated by Arnaudet and Barrett 1984 focused on the ability of the students to provide a critical point of view on what they have read. The critical reading section was observed on the format of critical reading adapted from Critical Reading and Summary proposed by Wheeler 2012. The format was divided into 10 points. The points presented were the representative of the stages or set of activities that should be presented on critical reading. In critical reading, there are at least four stages needed to be completed; pre-reading, interpretive reading, critical reading and post-reading. From the stages, the format of the critical reading section observation was developed into several detailed points based on some basic theories. The points are presented in the following. Table 3.1 Observation Blueprint on Critical Reading Session No Points to be observed Stages of reading The underlying disciplines 1 Examine the length and title of the text Pre-reading Previewing, Pardede 2006 2 Classify the general subject, skim the essay and describe what kind of essay it is Skimming, Raygor Raygor 1985 3 See how the elements of text relate to the whole of the text, define basic problem in the text and make few questions before reading it Prediction, Smith 1994, in Pardede 2006 4 Look for important words while reading Interpretive reading Pre-critical reading, Kurland 2010 5 Paraphrasing while reading the text and summarizing the text after reading it 6 Identify the parts you do not understand 54 No Points to be observed Stages of reading The underlying disciplines 7 Ask questions and make the mark Critical reading Critical reading as way of thinking, Knott n.d. 8 Look again to the notes and check whether the initial questions are answered Post reading Evaluation, Knott n.d. and summary, writing centre university of Western Cape n.d. 9 Restate main argument and conclusion and summarize the essay 10 Explain why it is convincing or not with your own words The critical writing section was conducted in the second observation. The format for the observation was adapted from writing the critical response proposed by Donna Gorrell who adapted the original aspects from Simon Schuster Handbook for writers, 4 th edition, writing; invention forma and style by podis podis. The format consisted of 13 points. The points were the ideas developed from the theories underlying the principles of critical writing. There were three stages in critical writing; post reading, critical thinking and critical writing. From the three stages, the format of the critical writing section observation was divided into several small points which represented the stages or a set of activities developed in class. The points are presented in the following. Table 3.2 Observation Blueprint on Critical Writing Session No Points to be observed Stages The underlying principles 1 What are the main points, ideas or arguments of the text? Post reading Summary and analysis, Clanchy Ballard 1991 2 How is the text organized? 3 What evidence support does the author give? 4 What is the primary purpose of the text? 55 No Points to be observed Stages The underlying principles 5 Does the work achieve its purpose? Critical thinking Analysis and evaluation, Fisher 2001 6 Is the evidence weakinsufficient? 7 Can I supply further explanation to clarify or support any main points or ideas? 8 Are there parts I do not understand? 9 Was there part in which the author offer too much little information? 10 Were there parts which could persuade you? Why? 11 Introduction Critical writing Review, Wallace Wray 2006 12 Body: summary, analysis and response. 13 Conclusion The critical thinking section in the presentation session was the last observation that the researcher conducted to figure out the critical thinking achieved by the students. The format of observation was adapted from CTAC Critical Thinking across Curriculum Faculty Community 2011 for George Mason University, which originally taken from the AACU Critical Thinking VALUE Rubric. The aspects are issue elaboration, evidence, context and assumptions, students’ position, conclusion and related outcomes, innovative thinking, and connecting, synthesizing and transforming. The categories employed for each aspect are novice, milestone: emerging, milestone: showing strength, and advanced. The aspects are presented as in the next page. 56 Table 3.3 Observation Blueprint on Oral Presentation Session Those are the observation formats that were used for this research. The detail explanation and relation to the underlying principles are explained in Chapter II and IV.

3.4.2 Questionnaire