THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH IN EDUCATION
A. Definition and types of research
1. Research is serious and detailed study of a subject is aimed at learning
news facts, scientific laws, testing ideas, etc (Longman dictionary of
contemporary English, 1987:835)
2. Research is systematic approach to finding answers to questions. (Larsen,
1991:10)
B. Types of research
1. A qualitative methodology is an ethnography study in which the researcher
does not set out to hypothesis, but rather to observe what is present with
their focus, and consequently the data, free to vary during the course of the
observation.
2. A quantitative research is best typified by an experiment designed to
test a hypothesis through the use of objective instrument and appropriate
statistical analysis. (Larsen 1991:11)
C. Types of research based on its approach
1. A longitudinal approach (use the same subject) often called a case study
in second language acquisition field, typically involved observing the
development of linguistic performance, usually the spontaneous speech of one
subjects, when the speech data are collected at periodic interval over span of
time. The longitudinal approach could easily be charactized by at least three
of qualitative paradigm attributes: naturalistic (use of spontaneous speech),
process-oriented (in that it takes place over time) and ungeneralizable (very
view students)
2. A cross-sectional approach is the linguistic performance of a larger
number of subjects is studied, and the performance data are usually collected
at only one session. The cross-sectional approach is easily recognizable from
the corresponding attributes of the qualitative paradigm; obstructive,
controlled measurement (use of artificial tasks), outcome-oriented (in that it
takes place at only one points of time) and generalizable (larger group of
subject). (Larsen, 1991:11-12)
D. Where is the researcher?
1. Introspection: a qualitative study, introspection, one, in which with
the guidance from the researcher, learners examine their own behavior for insight
into second language acquisition. The validity of such self-report data is questionable.
2. Participant-observation: researcher takes part in the activities they
are studying. The period of observation is usually long and the number of
subject is small.
3. Non-participant observation; the researcher observes activities without
engaging in them directly. This leaves them free to take notes and or make
recording, during the observation itself. The subjects are usually few in number
and the period of study relatively strong. (Larsen, 1991:15-16)
E. Comparison of qualitative and quantitative
Point
|
Qualitative
|
Quantitative
|
Purpose
|
To understand
social phenomena
|
To study
relationship, cause, and effect
|
Design
|
Evolves during
study
|
Developed prior
to study
|
Approach
|
Inductive,
generate theory
|
Deductive, test
theory
|
Tools
|
Use
face-to-face interaction
|
Uses standardized
instrument
|
Sample
|
Uses small
samples
|
Use large
sample
|
Analysis
|
Narrative
description and interpretation
|
Statistical
analysis of numeric data
|
Setting
|
Natural
|
Mostly
controlled
|
Data
|
Emic
|
Ethic
|
