CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHOD

3.1 Research Materials This part is related with the sources of data studied. The materials object of this study are taken from the poems of Langston Hughes and Lorraine Hansberrys play entitled Raisin in the Sun as an unpublished work in 1958 but officially published by Robert Nemoroff in 1959 and firstly printed by Vintage Book Edition in 1994. The play consists of 151 pages.

3.2 Research Design This is an intertextual discourse historical analysis since the researcher analyzes the intertextuality aspects in Hughes poems and Hansberrys play and the historical background in CDA perspective that sees language as a social practice. It is, therefore, an investigation on the author era and biography is unavoidably important to be able to understand the sociocultural, political, economical, and educational atmosphere. As insisted by Hawthorn (1994:99) intertextuality is a relation between two or more texts which has an effects upon the way in which the intertext (that is, the text within which other texts reside or eco their presence) is read. The data that are analyzed are in the form of words, phrases, and sentences, not in the form of statistical inquiry. So, the researcher applies a descriptive qualitative method in which according to Stainback & Stainback (1988) it provides the researcher with a way to gather a broad range and a

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variety of types of data and allows for the study of interrelationships among the data. It also focuses the researchers attention on organizing the diverse and interrelated data gathered into a meaningful whole (10). Again, a descriptive qualitative method refers to the meanings, concepts, definitions, characteristics, metaphors, symbols, and description of things (Creswell, 1994: 145; Ferman & Levin, 1975: 1-3; Silverman, 1993). Qualitative research investigations can be viewed from a variety of perspectives. One of them is a historical perspective that might concentrate on a single period in the past or progressive change from some point in the past up to and including current perspectives. However, the feasibility of conducting a historical study is dependent on the availability of quality data sources relevant to investigation (Stainback & Stainback, 1988:18). Thus, in the process of inquiry the researcher explores some relevant references on African American history, the biography of the poet and playwright, and the ideology of American Dream and endeavors to comprehend them. Then, the qualitative data that expose the intertextuality of both works and describe the African Americans sociocultural, economical, educational and political experiences and their struggle for the American Dream are analyzed and describe descriptively. The researchers task is to expose and interpret (ideographic interpretation) the uniqueness of the data based on the theoretical perspectives in chapter II.

3.3 Instrument In line with the nature of this study that is descriptive qualitative, the key instrument is the investigator himself. He is more personally and

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environmentally sensitive and reflects idiosyncrasies rather than norms (Lincoln and Guba, 1981: 129). Equipped with theory of Critical Historicism (genetic theory) in literature, Historical Discourse Approach (DHA),

Intertextuality, African American historical background and the concept of American Dream, he selects, codes, catagorizes and analyzes the data. Although the present study deals with the product of writing, the background of composing is not neglected. Understanding the background of composing enables the researcher to recognize and interpret the texts well because written discourse production reflects about what to say and how to say (read van Dijk, 1992: 263).

3.4 Data Collection In collecting the data, the researcher conducts reading processes, since the data are written materials that are in the form verses (poems) and dialogues (play). In obtaining the data, the researcher follows Riffaterres ideas (in Hawthon, 1994: 14) that there are two stages of reading processes. The first is heuristic reading where the first interpretation takes place, since it is during this reading that meaning is apprehended. The second is retroactive reading in which the second interpretation takes place, and this the truly hermeneutic reading (114). Hermeneutic in this case tries to understand literary text beyond the structure. Therefore, the researcher must focus on the text and context to get a holistic meaning.

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3.5 Data Analysis and Interpretation The data of this study are analyzed by modifying Riffaterres reading processes technique (in Hawthon, 1994: 14), Miles and Hubertmans analysis procedure (1994:10-12) and the researchers own procedures. First, data reduction and selection that has interrelationship is conducted. Data reduction and selection are not something separate from analysis. It is a part of analysis and it is a form of analysis that sharpens, sorts, focuses, discards, and organizes data in such a way that final conclusions can be drawn and verified. This refers to the process of selecting, focusing, simplifying, abstracting, and transforming the data that appear in the text. The second step is data display. It is designed to assemble organized information into an immediately accessible, compact form so that the analyst can see what is happening and either draw justified conclusions or move on to the next step of analysis the display suggests may be useful. Third, he commits both heuristic and retroactive reading processes on the studied material. This step is actually done in whole processes of research, especially at the beginning of selecting and reducing the data. Then, the process of texts analysis is naturally on going process that means analyzing the text while reading since the researcher has been well equipped with relevant theories. Not like qualitative research where the data could be analyzed after they have been collected. The last step is conclusion drawing and verification. From the start of data collection, the qualitative data analyst is beginning to decide what things mean. However, final conclusions may not appear until data collection is over, depending on the size of corpus; the coding, storage, and retrieval methods used; and the sophistication of the researcher. Then, the meanings emerging

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from the data have to be tested for their plausibility, their sturdiness or in brief their validity by focusing on the critics critical comments.

Data selection & Collection (Reading Process I)

Data Display (Reading Processes II)

Data Analysis & Interpretation (Reading Process IV & hermeneutics)

Data reduction Reading (Processes III)

Title Theme(s)
Expression & Perception of American Dream

Intertextual Discourse Historical Approach

Finding

Conclusions

Interactive Model of Data Analysis (modified by the researcher from the researchers theoretical framework; Miles and Huberman, 1994: 12; Riffaterre in Hawthon, 1994: 14) The interpretation, meanwhile, is conducted in line with the data analysis by employing hermeneutics discipline. Ricoeur (1981) states that hermeneutics is the theory of the operations of understanding in their relation to the interpretation of text (p. 43). In interpreting the text, there are two kinds

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of horizon, namely (1) horizon of the text and (2) horizon of the reader. Both of them always appear in the process of interpretation and they must be communicated in order to avoid tension. Therefore, if reader or inquirer read a text that portraits the past, he must pay attention to the horizon of the history (in this case the context) where the texts were produced (Gadamer, 1960: 310).

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