Description and Analysis of Language Comprehension Methods - Research Paper Example

? ICT in English Teaching 3. Methodology Summary of the methodologies used in previous similar studies One of the methods that hasbeen used in a similar study in the past is Historical Research. In this method the study is done through the collection of facts and information that took place in the past then analyzing them to draw a conclusion regarding the matter at hand (Somekh, 2001:7). This method is not very effective in this study as the matter of ICT use in the education field is rather contemporary and hence historical facts are not very useful in the evaluation of ICT use in schools. The method provides some relevant information but it is not exhaustive and reliable. Another method that has been used in a similar study in the past is Comparative Research. This is where a study is done through two or more situations that go hand in hand are compared either as they were in the past or as they are in the present so as to draw a conclusion regarding a given subject matter (Linder, 2004:14). In this respect, the use of ICT in education has been compared between different nations so as to come up with a suitable way of how to implement it in a given nation. This is effective in providing possible challenges and suitable modes of how to deal with them, but it fails in providing a custom made solution of dealing with specific challenges that are faced with the nation in question as no two nations are precisely the same. Another method that has been used in a similar study in the past is Descriptive research. In this method of research, data regarding the subject matter of the study is collected through observations. This method has been suitable in providing tailor-made solutions for the specific area of study as observation is a mode of collecting first-hand information about the study area with no contamination from any intermediate receptors of the data (Oblinger & Oblinger, 2005:8). The method has however failed to detect possible challenges that might occur which historical information is suitable in revealing. The use of Correlation Research is another method that has been used in a similar study in the past. In this method of research, the study collects information regarding the subject matter and tries to establish the presence of any correlation or relationship between two phenomena in the subject and predicts the manner in which each of the phenomenon would change with a certain change in the other phenomenon (Ryan, 2000:9). This method of research has been effective in providing information regarding the various variables in the subject matter and the way in which they relate to each other. It is however not suitable in detailing how variables can stand independently to solve certain challenges. Another method that has been used in a similar study in the past is Experimental Research. In this method of research various elements of the subject of debate are put in controlled conditions and monitored with certain pre-determined degrees of changes to establish the manner in which they react. This method has been effective in given information regarding small controlled groups of the population under investigation which are taken as a sample group of the entire study group (Blurton, 1999:7). It is however subjected to experimental errors which might lead to the drawing of wrong conclusions regarding the entire target population. Evaluation Research is yet another method that has been used in a similar study in the past. In this method of research, the study investigates the manner in which population groups in say a social setting make good of the situations in which they find themselves in and hence live in harmony. It this subject matter the method of research has been used to investigate the manner in which various societies have made of ICT in their education systems (Becta, 2008:14). It hence comes up with a clear picture of the level of effectiveness or lack of it in the use of ICT in education in a given setting. This method however is not effective in coming up with methods to be used as a way forward of solving the situation at hand as it only evaluates the effectiveness of the already adopted mechanism. Another method that has been used in a similar study in the past is Action Research. This method of research involves setting up an intervention mechanism to try and solve a given problem that is faced by a given community on a small scale in an experimental basis so as to investigate its effectiveness in a real world situation before it can be introduced in large scale. It has been an effective method of avoiding colossal damage caused by the introduction of large scale intervention mechanism at once (UNESCO, 2002:16). It however has exposed the small scale of people who are used for the experiment to unknown risks which might be associated with the method of intervention adopted. Ethnogenic Research is also another method that has been used in a similar study in the past. In this method of research, information is gathered regarding the subject under investigation and these are solely relied upon to form a theory regarding the subjects which are used to make predictions and form solutions for the problem at hand a opposed to making use of theories formulated from external sources (Wells, 2001; Watson, 2001; Smeets, 2005; Kelly, 2000). This method has been effective in providing tailor-made solutions that befit the target population directly. Another method that has been used in a similar study in the past is Feminist or Identity Politics Research (Gillespie, 2006:2). In this method of research, gender and politics take central stage in determining the manner in which the various phenomenon of the subject matter should be positioned in order to solve the problem at hand. It is a method that has provided reliable solutions especially in areas where gender and politics are key determinants of social welfare. It is however unreliable in other areas. Cultural research is also another method that has been used in a similar study in the past. In this method of research, cultural beliefs and practices are keenly investigated to establish an amicable solution to the challenge at hand. This method is very effective in situations where culture takes center stage in determining the behavior and the social stature of the society. The method is however unreliable in areas with mixed cultures like metropolitans (Pittard et al., 2003:3). Critical Paradigm This is the method of research that has been used for this study as it is keen on providing democracy by eliminating all elements of injustices in regard to political, religious, cultural, racial and gender imbalances. The target population for the study is a metropolitan area which is made up of people who represent all political, religious, cultural, racial and gender factions and hence it is important that the method of research adopted takes into heed all these elements (Gillespie, 2006:2). The method is effective in thoroughly scrutinizing the subject matter and coming up with an amicable solution to the research questions. Action research in TESOL Action research is the method of research where an intervention is put in place for a given challenge in a small scale in real life situation so as to investigate how effective the intervention is. In TESOL, the use of ICT is introduced in a number of pilot schools to investigate how effective the solution is to the teaching and learning of English before it can be introduced in large scale in all the schools in the target area (Pittard et al., 2003:3). It involves the thorough scrutiny of the population to establish an effective intervention mechanism that shall be introduced on a small scale in the target population. Importance of Planning in action research Planning is very important in the use of action planning as a method of research as it establishes a framework or schedule that can be followed so as to effectively cub the problem at hand. Action Research is very involving of the researcher as in involves a thorough scrutiny of the target population through gathering of first hand data so as to formulate a tailor-made mechanism of the challenge that is being faced by the target population before introducing it in a small scale (Selwynn, 2003:5-8). This implies that the method is very time, cost and energy consuming and in that regard a proper plan of action needs to be established son as to cut down on the degree of time, cost and energy that shall be invested in the research. Interviews This is an effective way of collecting information if well utilized. It is however possible to face challenges such as language barrier; the interviewee being in a bad mood and being very time consuming. In order to solve these problems, the researcher needs to gather prior information regarding the interviewee so as to be well prepared (Wilhelm, 2003:6). By so doing, the interviewee shall have the right interpreter to avoid language barrier which should also incorporate the aspect of dialect barrier. The interviewee can also introduce some elements of comic reliefs to ease the interviewee and have him being in the right mood for an interview. Informing the interviewee in advance about a scheduled interview shall also aid in having him or her psychologically prepared. Having set questions for the interview readily prepared and written as a reminder helps in limiting the time of the interview. Questionnaires These are also an effective way of collecting data if properly employed. They however face certain challenges which include the aspect of illiteracy; poor handwriting; language and grammatical challenges. These challenges can make the collection of data through questionnaires to be hard. In an effort to curb the challenges, it is important to have a team of the researchers out in the field to aid any of the members of the public who may have problem in understanding the language used in the questionnaire and to explain any unclear elements to them. It is also important to have the questions prepared in very simple and basic language to ease understanding (Dutta, 2003:120; Bontis, 2004:22). Difficult handwritings are well dealt with by a group of readers with each making out a small portion of the hard handwriting. Where typing the answers is possible, it is the best solution to curb the problem of difficult handwritings. References Adelman, C. (1985). 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