Bambang Ruby S, NIM: 0203513037, Smester 1

PPs Unnes Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris (Kelas Khusus) 2013/2014

HANDOUT 2
Research in English Language Teaching

Activity 1
How the quantitative and qualitative approaches differ in their assumptions
about facts
Nunan (1992) argued that quantitative research is obtrusive and controlled, objective,
generalisable, outcome oriented, and assumes the existence of fact which are somehow
external to and independent of the observer or researcher. Qualitative research, assumes
that all knowledge is relative, there is a subjective element to all knowledge and research,
and that holistic, ungeneralisable studies are justifiable.
Based on the explanation above, quantitative is the analysis of numerical data to describe
and explain the facts. On the other hand, qualitative is the analysis of interpretation non
numerical data to emphasize beliefs rather than facts.
Which one of the approaches is referred to as objective and why?
Based on the figure 1.1 (terms commonly associated with quantitative and qualitative
approaches to research), it is known that quantitative approach is referred to objective
because:

Removed from the data (outsider perspective)

Ungrounded, verification-oriented, confirmatory, reductionist, inferential, and
hypothetical deductive.
Outcome oriented
Reliable: hard and replicable data generalisable: multiple case studies assume a
stable reality.
Controlled measurement
Seeks causes of social phenomena

Which one is often termed soft and for what reason?

Nunan (1992) stated that in metaphorical terms, qualitative research is soft. From figure
1.1, it is known the reason why qualitative is soft. Those are:

Close to the data: the insider perspective

Grounded, discovery oriented, exploratory, expansionist, descriptive, and inductive.
Process oriented

Valid: real, rich, and deep data ungeneralisable: single case study assumes a dynamic
reality.
Concerned with understanding human behavior

The following list is associated with either quantitative or qualitative approach

to research.
Qualitative
Subjective
Grounded
Naturalistic
Holistic
Inductive
Process oriented
Meaning

Quantitative
Objective
Measurement
Controlled
Generalizable
Variable

Activity 2
Is the psychometric tradition qualitative or quantitative? Why?
Chaudron (1988) stated that the psychometric tradition is the most quantitative in
approach. It is because its method and instruments involve numerical measurement and
statistical analysis and inference.
Give examples of activities characterizing quantitative research?
The quantitative research concerns with product outcomes, counting events and
correlating them with others. It analyzes numerical data to explain, predict, and control
phenomena. For example, I will use the quantitative approach when I want to know Can
the National Examination make Students Better in Learning English? in this study, I need
the participants (students), overview the data (the result of students Exam), and
correlating the participants and the data using statistical approach to know the outcome.
Give examples of activities characterizing qualitative research?
The qualitative research concerns with the process oriented, it involves naturalistic,
uncontrolled, subjective, and analyze meanings. It analyzes and interprets data to gain
insight of phenomena. For example, I will use the qualitative approach when I want to
know The Power of New Curriculum 2013 in the Globalization Era. In this study, I will
identify research topic, reviewing literature, selecting participants, collecting data,
interpret and evaluate it to report the study.
In what way do quantitative and qualitative approaches supplement each other?
Provide examples
Quantitative in the process of testing hypotheses needs qualitative conceptual
considerations. While qualitative must be concerned about the result of description and
categories.
Example, I interested to analyze Students motivation in Learning English through active
learning activities. In this study, I will collect quantitative survey data in the first phase

and follow with the qualitative data in the second phase. My question in the first
quantitative survey is what are the factors that affect Students motivation in Learning
English? in the second phase, (qualitative) my research question is how the students
mention active learning activities as an influencing factor according to their motivation in
learning English.

Activity 3
Based on the different characteristics of quantitative and qualitative research
presented in table 2 (Merriam, 1988:18) in which combination is possible and
impossible?
Possible combination:
Allwright and Bailey (1991) argued that various combinations of quantitative and
qualitative data collection and analysis are possible. The data can be quantified when an
observer counts the frequency of certain behaviors. Any sort of measurement that yields
numerical information generates quantitative data.
Based on the explanation above, the quantitative data is needed to make clear the result
of qualitative study, while the qualitative approach is used to follow up the result of
numerical quantitative data.

Impossible combination:
Merriam (1988) argued that two important aspects that differs the qualitative and
quantitative are description and induction. Qualitative research is interested in process,
meaning, and understanding. This type of research builds abstractions, concepts,
hypotheses or theories rather than testing existing theory. On the other hand, quantitative
is obtrusive, controlled, objective, and product oriented.

Based on the figure 3 (Allwright and Bailey, 1991:66) specify the

methodological adjustment needed when qualitative data are to be analyzed
quantitatively and vice versa
Based on the figure 3, the model involves two intersecting continua, one for the type of
data collected, and one for the type analytical procedures used in a study.
Qualitative data, such as a set of diaries kept by learners, would typically be considered
subjective. It can be analyzed by quantitative approach to see if there are any significant
differences between groups of learners.
Quantification has a similar appeal to objectively if we can count things then we can
subject them to statistical analysis. It can be analyzed qualitatively to determine
acceptable level of proficiency.