CHAPTER III
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This chapter explain how data is collected and analyzed. In conducting this research, the researcher dose some step which apply several methods. It begins with research design, data, source of data, technique of collecting data, and technique of analyzing data.
3.1 Research Design
This research uses a qualitative descriptive method. This method describes something or some objects briefly. Kothari (Kothari, 2004) states that descriptive research also includes surveys and different fact-finding. The main purpose of this research is to describe the current situation. This means that the descriptive analysis method that deals with qualitative data is used in this study to identify conflict in the novel looking for alaska. Qualitative method is a method that aims to describe, make a picture or painting systematically, factually, and accurately about a data.
According to Mackey and Gass (Mackey and Susan, 2005), "qualitative research can refer to studies that are based on descriptive data and do not (regularly) use statistical procedures". The second description therefore speaks of a qualitative method because, according to Creswell (Creswell, 2014), "Part of the qualitative approach in this study is to use a descriptive method to explore additional information and develop a deeper interpretation." It is possible that the technology of analytical data can be qualified so that the result of the study is also of higher quality.
The purpose of the data analysis in this study is to use descriptive methods to compare the actual data with the applicable theory. Moloeng (2006) states that the descriptive qualitative technique involves analyzing data that has been gathered in the form of words, images, and not statistics. The researcher can draw the conclusion that the author uses qualitative methodologies to aid in describing the data. By elucidating and extracting information, data, and facts, qualitative approaches can be utilized to enhance opinions based on the data gathered. Looking for Alaska by John Green is a textual data rather than a numerical data source, hence the researcher in this study used a qualitative methodology.
3.2 Source of Data
In a study, data is a very important thing, because the data is the fact for a research. As Adi (2011) says, in a research the most basic is data. The data that has been collected in accordance with the subject that has been decided, the researcher can use the data for his research.
Moreover, Patton. M. Q. (2002) believes there are 3 ways to collect data in qualitative methods;
1). Interview techniques.
2). Direct observation.
3). Document text.
Dealing with the statement, in this research, the researcher will use the third method; document text. Which document text is also called novel.
The majority of the information comes directly from John Green's novel Looking for Alaska (2005), which was first released in march. The novel's dialogues, incidents, and narrative expression that are pertinent to the study serve as the primary sources of information. Conflict in the novel are the data that were used in this study.
In qualitative research, the sources of the data can include people, events, documents, archives, and other things. The data of this research can be seen from the plots in the novels.
3.3 Sample of Data
Data sample, according to Nursapia Harahap (2013), are crucial to research since they offer a summary and analysis of the data needed for the study. The text from the novel The Fault in Our Stars served as the study's data sample. It discussed the main character conflict as well as the inherent components of the conflict, and the struggle in overcoming the conflict. The data is shown below with the example:
N
o Looking for Alaska Main Character's Narration and Dialogue
1. “I could feel their pity as they spooned artichoke dip with the potato chips served to my imaginary friends,” ( Looking for Alaska , 2005, p.10)
2. “The swan is a descendant of the devil. Don't let your distance be closer than ours is now. the swan has had problems with humans. been tortured or something.” ( Looking for Alaska, 2005, p.25)
3 “Yes, he usually doesn't get too crazy until school starts. “ ( Looking for Alaska, 2005, p.27)
4. “Yep, be prepared to get stupid questions because I stink at pre-calculus.”
(Looking for Alaska, 2005,p.67)
3.4 Technique of Collecting Data
The writers' method of research is descriptive qualitative research. According to Sandelowski (2000) descriptive qualitative research is a sort of study that draws descriptive information from observed objects in the form of spoken or written descriptions. The objective of qualitative descriptive research is to provide a thorough summary of certain events that people or groups of people have experienced.
The technique used to collect data is crucial to the success of the study. The data will be utilized as information to help this research's study. The researcher concentrated on reading The Fault in Our Stars and searching for conflict themes as she gathered the data. The novel's text was downloaded as a PDF file, which was afterwards converted to plain text.
Reading "Looking for Alaska" is the first step in gathering data. The documentary technique is used to collect the study's data. This indicates that the researchers read, examined, and analyzed relevant theory from particular books and periodicals pertaining to the study's subject. In order to support this study, the researcher has gathered data from text books and the internet that are pertinent to the topic at hand.
Most frequently used terms that evoke conflict have been noted when reading the text with software. Below is a detailed study of the words that were chosen to show how they affect conflict.
3.5 Technique of Analyzing Data
After collecting data, the next step is analyzing the data. In anlyzing data, Creswell gives several steps as follows:
1. Identification
Identifying all aspects of the min object in the research which are the prologue, dialogue and action to Miles as main character. The identification is the processof collected the data which are related to the research questions. The data which have taken from the citation of the novel are represented by the trauma and self defense mechanism inside the main character.
2. Cateegorization
The next step, the researcher will classify the data. Categorization is n actifity to classify all data into categories or classifications based on conflict theory. The researcher classifies the data and then groups it into each item.
3. Describing and interpreting data
Describing and interpreting the data related to the Looking for Alaska as the object of the research in the novel. It is the process of exploration that allows the researcher in describing the evidences of data from the research object.
4. Drawing Conclusion
Drawing conclusion of the entire study research, it was done after conducting the analysis and the conclusion was taken based on the whole comprehension of the research question.
In Kenny's (1966) theoretical foundation, conflict not only drives the plot, but also shapes the characters in the novel. External conflicts, which arise from human interactions with nature and society, design good and evil characters through physical actions and intense dialog. As the story progresses, this conflict brings tension that creates anxiety for the characters, exploring their psychological dimensions.
Internal conflict, as a form of conflict within the characters, gives emotional depth to the narrative. Conflicting desires and choices create internal anxiety that reflects the character's inner state. This anxiety often drives characters to develop self-defense mechanisms to deal with the pressure. Self-defense, as a psychological response, creates character complexity and enriches the narrative with deep psychological aspects.
In the interconnectedness of conflict, character, anxiety, self-defense, and even trauma, the novel becomes more than just a story. A character's anxiety can drive the plot, while self-defense reflects the way a character adapts to the pressures of conflict. Even external conflicts can trigger trauma that deepens the reader's understanding of the characters' backgrounds and motivations. As such, these connections form the basis for a complex and compelling novel.
