Research methodology is the method, means or ... - DSpace@UM

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al, 2006). By using qualitative research, it is enable to address many angles of peoplecentred situations. At the other hand, quantitative research emphasizes on reality that can be discovered through the use of empirical and scientific methods that quantitative in nature (Durrheim, 1999b). Psychological research is only valid if it adheres to the rules of precise measurement that involves manipulation of variables using an experimental design, and the articulate of specific hypotheses (Rogers, 2000). According to Bogdan and Taylor (Guba, 1978), quantitative research “seeks facts or causes of social phenomena with little regards for the subjective states of individuals”. However, this is opposed with the nature of the study in this research. 3.3 The importance of qualitative research approach in this study The significant for this research is to pave a learning framework in history learning among the youth in Malaysia. The new trend which proposed by the researcher is learning history by authoring a RPG. The nature for the research is to seek for an alternative way for learners to construct the historical facts by their own understanding. Obviously, quantitative research did not fit with the epistemology for this research. This is because quantitative data analysis could indeed confirm or reject specific hypotheses that are formulated at the onset of the research, but it couldn‟t describe and analyze mental processes that take place in the research (Hazzan et-al, 2006). Qualitative methods can be used to get better understanding in any phenomenon about which little is yet known (Strauss & Corbin, 1990). They can be used to gain a new perspective on things about which much is already known, or to gain more in-depth information that may be difficult to convey quantitatively (Marie C. Hoepfl, 1997). Learning history through computer game development not yet been applied in Malaysia. The beneficial of this approach is yet to discover. By offering the foundation, the 31
esearcher hopes it can be an effective way to promote history learning among youth in Malaysia. In this research, learners will create RPG to learn about history. Few successful computer education researches were conducted by applying quality research method. For instance, an educational software development (Holland & Reeves, 1996) developed by a group of students applied activity theory (Engestrom, 1987). Another research was conducted to study students‟ action in distributed teams in computing course (Chew, 2004) also deployed activity theory. These researches show that qualitative method is appropriate to be applied in this study. 3.4 Qualitative research design in this study The main characteristic of qualitative research is not aiming at accepting or rejecting an a-priori defined hypothesis or research works. The use of qualitative approach is aim at constructing a theoretical framework that emerges from the analysis of data gathered during the research and enables to explain the research results in a coherent manner (Hazzan et-al, 2006). In this research, the researcher proposed a new framework for history learning among youth in Malaysia. It is more on the learning experiences of the participants during workshop. A qualitative research setting fits in this context. 3.4.1 Sampling strategies Qualitative research uses a naturalistic approach that seeks to understand phenomena in context-specific setting, such as “real world setting where the researcher does not attempt to manipulate the phenomenon of interest” (Patton, 2002). Thus, qualitative researchers usually deliberately select small samples that fit the research aim (Moon et al., 1990). This is because it concerns with in-depth analysis and detail. The sampling technique that being applied in this study was purposeful sampling (Patton, 1990). It is the dominant strategy in qualitative research. Purposeful sampling seeks 32
Page 1: Chapter 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1
Page 5 and 6: observations provide an opportunity
Page 7 and 8: The researcher moved back between d
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Page 11 and 12: perception into how the participant

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