CHAPTER 3

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.0 Introduction
This chapter details out the study plan and the processes. This study is a
descriptive study in which the sample was selected by means of random
sampling. The instrument used will be explained together with the
questionnaires that are relevant to the different study questions. Sample
number, sampling techniques, and the population is also explained. This work
attempts to resolve the following study questions.

3.1 Research Design

There is no better method of study method than the sample survey
process for determining, with a known level of accuracy, information about large
population (Real & Parker,1997). Research design should be completed and
accurate in order to gain information to answer research questions. A study plan
is a plan, structure, and strategy of the investigation so conceived so as to hold
results to study inquiries or problems (Burns & Grove 2005:23). It is a complete
scheme or program of the study. The design describes the procedures for
conducting the study, including when from whom and under what conditions
data were obtained. Its aim is to supply the most valid, accurate answers as
possible to study questions (McMillan & Schumacher, 1993:31).

In this study, a quantitative approached is used, based on a

correlation design using a dependent and independent variable. The dependent
variable (Y) is the students learning English achievement. The independent
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variable is perceived by students and measured by using the Parental

involvement Questionnaire. The purpose of the study is generally of a descriptive
correlative design because the relationship between variables would be drawn.
Data were drawn using the statistical way of description. Frequency counts will
be utilized together with the percentages, means, and standard deviations.
Spearmans correlation coefficient measures will be used to determine the strength of
association between two ranked variables.
In this study, the study is using quantitative approach. The following
definition, taken from Aliaga and Gunderson (2000), describes what we mean by
quantitative research methods very well: Quantitative research is Explaining
phenomena by collecting numerical data that are analyzed using mathematically
based methods (in particular statistics). (Creswell, 2003 ; McMillan and
Schumacher,

2014),

also

emphasized

quantitative

approach

is

the

measurement and analysis of causal relationships between variables. The

researcher also wants to know the impact of dependent variable and
independent variable in this study.

3.2 Population and Sample

A population is a group of individuals who share at least one common
characteristic (Sabitha, 2005). The target population for this study is the
Malaysian rural form four secondary students and multiethnic students from the
school.
A sample is a small representative collection of units from a
population used to learn truths about that population (Sabitha, 2005). Sampling
is the process of selecting a number of individuals in a study which the
individuals will represent the selected larger group. The purpose of sampling is to
gather data about the population in order to make an inference that can be

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generalized to the population. The samples will be formed by choosing all form
four students in one of the schools in Kedah. Purposive sampling is used to
complete this study in one of the typical rural schools in Malaysia.
3.3 Instrument
This study applies questionnaire to obtain the student feedback about
parental

involvement

achievement

by

the

and
form

their
four

relationship
students.

This

between
study

learning
has

English

adapted

two

questionnaire tools based on Gambrell et al. (1996) and Hoover-Dempsey and

Sandler (1995,1997). The following five segments were chosen to adjust the
adapting proposals for the source questionnaire as seem appropriate. Adapting
has to be done regarding the context of rural secondary school.
A. Parent Social economic status (SES) and Students Ethnicity.
The questions were adapted from Walker, et al. (2005). However, the
structure of the questions was modified by the researcher according to the
objective of the current study. The researcher has made some changes in
its response format. The variables were asked about the income of the
parents and parents highest education. Meanwhile, the question about
students ethnicity was asked in question number two to achieve the
objectives of the study to find the impact of the parental involvement in
students' academic achievement in terms of students ethnicity.
B. Academic achievement of the students.
Academic achievement results were drawn from schools involved in the
study. The results were taken from students form three assessment (PT3).
C. Home Environment
Research has shown that the quality of the home environment itself can
have some effect on how a child performs in the classroom (Roberts et al.,
2005). This assessment took into account how parents create structure
and stimulation for their children, the emotional climate and the kinds of
basic interaction that take place in the home. The questions about the
home environment were taken from a framework developed by Joyce
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Epstein. The home environment is typed four among the six types which
may, in turn, lead to other types of involvement that will eventually
produce outcomes related to student achievement. Type four activities are
also associated with more homework completed and better attitudes
toward schoolwork. Parents may begin to perceive their children more as
learners and develop confidence in their own abilities to teach and support
the educational process. They are also more likely to engage in
discussions of schoolwork with their children.
D. Parental involvement in students learning
The questions were developed from Hoover and Sandler (1995 - 2005)
model. Even in Hoover-Dempsey & Sandler Model of the Parental
Involvement Process has five level, the researcher only stated that at the
first level (decision on the basic involvement of parents), parents shape
the role of parenting, awareness of helping children and need to be
involved in their childrens education.

In order to extract data about the parental involvement and students

academic achievement effectively. While filling the questionnaire scaffolding by
the researcher to ensure that students read the questions clearly and understand
to give accurate answers to this inquiry.

3.3.1 Proficiency Level

SUBJECT

TOTAL
NUMBER
OF
STUDENTS

19

16

18

55

122

GRADE
ENGLISH /
BAHASA
INGGERIS

Figure 2.3 Proficiency Data

Proficiency levels are performance levels that indicate the degree to which
students have mastered material (e.g., state content standards). They are used
21

for local and state assessments to indicate what a score (e.g., 27, 359, 68%, etc.)
actually means (e.g, Proficient, Advanced, etc.). Regarding proficiency data in
Figure 2.3, PT3 students who have proficiency level between E and F have
reached the minimum level and do not reach the minimum level.Students who
didn't reach the minimum level is higher than students who reached grade A,
B ,C, and D.

3.4 Analysis
Data analyzing is the process where the researcher works with the
collected data and its meaning becomes clearer. Correlation plays an important
part in this research. A researcher working with a type of converting interval or
ratio scales into ranks before it can be calculated. Working with these types of
data the researcher uses Spearman correlation to measure the degree of
association between two variables. It was developed by Spearman, thus, it is
called the Spearman rank correlation. Spearman rank correlation test does not
assume any assumptions about the distribution of the data and is the
appropriate correlation analysis when the variables are measured on a scale that
is at least ordinal. Descriptive method was used to collect mean percentage with
the samples research. To affirm the
meaning of the study results the probability value will be fixed at P<0.05. All the
information gathered from the respondents from the questionnaire was analyzed
using

Statistical

Package

of

22

Social

Science

(SPSS).

3.5 Research Procedure

This research describes the processes involved in identifying and
developing a topic for research investigation. It was suggested that researcher
considers several sources for potential ideas, including a critical analysis of
everyday situations. Before the data is collected the researcher has applied for a
permit from The Educational School of Universiti Sains Malaysia and the Planning
and Education Policy research of Ministry of Education Malaysia. The researcher
also asks a permission from parents about their monthly income.

Developing the Instrument

Get permit from The Educational School of USM

and
Get Approval from Educational Planning and
Research Division

Get Approval from Department of State Education

Get Approval from the Principal of the school

Collect Data
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Analyse Data

Report Findings
Figure 3.1 Research Procedure

The questionnaire containing questions on parents background and

parental involvement in their childrens education was used by the researcher to
obtain quantitative data from the respondents. Each respondent who was
engaged in the study was informed that all the information provided by the
respondent would be kept confidential.

3.6 Validity
Cook and Campbell (1979) define validity as the best available
approximation to the truth or falsity of a given inference, proposition or
conclusion. In this study, the volume of the instrument is based on the constructs
used by Epsteins (1995) from six types of parental involvement in their
childrens academic activities and the published tool by Hoover-Dempsey and
Sandler on Model of Parental Involvement was adapted.

3.7 Reliability
A pilot test was taken to check the internal consistency of the
questionnaire. Konting (2014:183) suggests that reliability statistics of more than
0.60 always been used to figure out the coefficient reliability. Gay and Airasian
(2003a), divide the value of alpha into three levels, which are, below 0.60 (low
and not acceptable), between 0.60 to 0.80 (intermediate and acceptable) and
the highest is 0.80 as follow as a table 3.2.

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Table 3.2 Cronbach Alpha Coefficients

Cronbach Alpha Values
Below 0.60

Items Position
Low (not acceptable)

0.60 0.80

Medium (acceptable)

0.80 above

High and good

A researcher has found out that reliability values for 16 items from a pilot
test using Alpha Cronbach test were 0.74 This test has been done to see the
consistency in all items. The overall results of obtaining items in the pilot test
have been shown in Table 3.3

Table 3.3 Cronbach Alpha value of statistical reliability

Cronbach's Alpha
0.740

N of Items
16

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