Experimental Research Designs
Research Area:
To investigate the effect of the use L1 in English language classrooms in primary one
Possible Experimental Research Question:
Is the use of L1 in English language classrooms help primary one students achieving better scores in English Language?
Independent variable – the use of L1 (mother tongue of the children, that is, Cantonese)
Dependent variable – scores in English Language
This study is classified as an experimental design as the study try to test the effects of the independent variable on a dependable variable.
How could data for the variables be collected?
Step 1: Collect as many samples as possible. The children are divided into two groups. One will be the experimental group in which the independent variable (L1) is introduced and the other will be the control group, which will be taught by English.
Step 2: To investigate if the children perform better when L1 is used in English lessons, pre-test (mid-term exam) and post-test (annual exam) are introduced. It is assumed that the scores of the examination can measure the students’ performance in English Language.
Step 3: The experimental design would be-
Experimental condition
Pre-test (mid-term exam) scores Using L1 (Cantonese) in English Language classroom Post-test (annual exam) scores
Control condition
Pre-test (mid-term exam) scores Using L2 (English) in English Language classroom Post-test (annual exam) scores
Null hypothesis – there will be no significant differences between the scores
3. Provide argument how answer to that question can contribute to improvements in some aspect of education/teaching and learning?
It is assumed that some improvement in scores for both conditions (because children getting older) can be found, but if there is significant greater improvement in experimental condition, that meant this extra improvement is affected by the independent variable). The significant result helps the school to make decision on the medium of instruction used in primary 1 English Language classroom.
1 comment:
It is a good research topic. I suggest one more factor to be considered. As some parents may arrange some extra English lessons for the students outside the school hours, the researcher must make sure that this factor will be avoided. Otherwise, the data are not valid.
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