CHAPTER III
RESEARCH METHOD
A. Research Design
This study employs a descriptive qualitative research design. Qualitative research
aims to understand social phenomena based on meaning, context, and participant
perspectives, rather than numerical data (Creswell, 2014). Descriptive research, on the
other hand, systematically, factually, and accurately describes and explains a
phenomenon without data manipulation (Sugiyono, 2019). By combining these two
methods, this study analyzes and describes the refusal strategies used by characters in
The Crown, based on the power relations among them.
This research is in the field of linguistics, specifically pragmatics. Pragmatics is a
branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of utterances based on context, speaker
intent, and the relationship between speaker and addressee (Yule, 1996). A pragmatic
approach was chosen because this study analyzes how refusal strategies are realized
by characters with high and low power levels within the context of institutional and
hierarchical communication in the series. Through a descriptive qualitative research
design with a pragmatic approach, this study aims to provide an understanding of the
forms of refusal strategies used by figures and how power relations influence the
choice of these strategies in social interactions.
B. Data and Data Sources
Data is information used by researchers to answer the research problem
formulation. According to Rusmawan (2019), data is a record of a collection of facts.
In qualitative research, data typically take the form of words, utterances, actions, or
documents that can be analyzed to understand a social phenomenon (Moleong, 2017).
Therefore, the data in this study consists of utterances containing refusal strategies
uttered by characters in The Crown. The research data focuses on refusal utterances
by characters with high and low power levels in various institutional and hierarchical
communication contexts. Furthermore, this study considers supporting elements such
as situational context, expressions, and social relationships among characters to aid
the pragmatic analysis process.
The data source is the origin or place from which the data used in the research
is obtained (Arikunto, 2013). In qualitative research, data sources can include
documents, texts, conversations, audiovisuals, or social phenomena relevant to the
research focus. The data source in this study is the Netflix series The Crown by Peter
Morgan. This series was chosen because it depicts communication interactions within
the British monarchy, which has a strong power structure and institutional hierarchy.
Through conversations between figures such as the royal family, the prime minister,
and royal officials, the series provides a wealth of data on the use of refusal strategies
influenced by power relations.
C. Research Instruments
Research instruments are tools used to collect and analyze data so that the
research can proceed systematically and purposefully. Arikunto (2009) states that
research instruments are tools used by researchers to obtain data and assess the quality
of the resulting data. In qualitative research, the primary instrument is the researcher
themselves, who plays a direct role in data collection, selection, interpretation, and
analysis (Sugiyono, 2019). Therefore, the researcher serves as the primary instrument,
identifying resistance strategies, classifying the types of resistance strategies, and
analyzing the influence of power relations on the use of these strategies in The
Crown.
In addition to the primary instrument, this study also uses supporting
instruments to aid the data collection and analysis process. These instruments
included a laptop, headset, video player application, serial subtitles, and a data
classification table. The laptop and video player application were used to watch and
observe the dialogue in the serial, while the headset helped the researcher hear the
utterances more clearly. Subtitles and transcripts were used to facilitate the
identification and recording of resistance utterances. Furthermore, a data classification
table is used to group the data based on the type of rejection strategy, character, and
level of character strength.
D. Data Collection Techniques
Data collection techniques are procedures used by researchers to obtain data
relevant to the research objectives. In qualitative research, data collection techniques
are carried out systematically to ensure the data obtained aligns with the research
focus (Creswell, 2014). This study employed documentation techniques because the
research data were obtained from audiovisual sources in the Netflix series The Crown.
This technique was chosen because it allowed researchers to directly observe the use
of refusal strategies in a natural and contextual communication. To collect the data,
the researcher took a few steps as follows:
1. Watching the entire series The Crown to identify dialogue containing refusal
strategies.
2. Transcribing dialogues containing refusal strategies and noting the conversational
context, including situations, relationships between characters, expressions, and
gestures to support pragmatic analysis.
3. Classifying the data based on the type of refusal strategy according to Beebe et
al.'s (1990) theory and the character's level of power.
4. Coding each data by including information such as data number, type of refusal
strategy, character name, episode, and power level category to facilitate the
analysis process. This coding process aimed to organize the data and identify
patterns of refusal strategy use in the study.
For example:
The Coding: 17/HP/DIR/QE/PL/00:41:15-00:41:17/TC/S1/E3
1. The first part is the number of data
17: datum number 17
2. The second part is power level of the speaker
HP: High Power
3. The third part is the types of refusal strategies
DIR: Direct Refusal
4. The fourth is the speaker who refuse
QE: Queen Elizabeth II
5. The fifth part is the hearer which was rejected
PL: Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
6. The sixth is the time of the data in the transcript of the series
00:41:15-00:41:17
7. The seventh part is the object of the research
TC: The Crown
8. The eighth part indicates the season number
S1: Seasons 1
9. The ninth part indicates the episode number
E3: Episode 3
E. Data Validation Techniques
Data validation is the process of ensuring that data and research results have a
high level of accuracy, credibility, and consistency. In qualitative research, several
data validation techniques can be used, such as triangulation, member checking, peer
debriefing, audit trails, and expert judgment (Creswell, 2014). These techniques are
used to reduce researcher subjectivity and increase the validity of research analysis
results.
In this study, the data validation technique used was expert judgment. Expert
judgment is a validation technique that involves seeking the assessment of individuals
with competence and understanding in the research field to evaluate the accuracy of
the data and analysis results. This technique was chosen because this study focuses on
pragmatic analysis, specifically refusal strategies and power relations in linguistics.
Through expert validators, the data classification and interpretation results can be
rechecked to ensure they align with the theory used.
The validators in this study were selected based on several criteria. First, the
validators had an academic background in linguistics, particularly pragmatics.
Second, the validators understood the theory of speech acts and refusal strategies used
in this study. Third, validators have experience in linguistic research or pragmatic
analysis, enabling them to provide objective assessments and input on the data and
analysis results. This validation process is expected to enhance the credibility and
validity of the research results.
F. Data Analysis Techniques
Data analysis techniques are the process of systematically processing, interpreting,
and organizing data to answer the research problem formulation. In qualitative
research, data analysis is conducted to understand the meaning and phenomena
contained within the data (Sugiyono, 2019). This study used Spradley's (1980) data
analysis technique. This technique was chosen because it helps researchers analyze
the use of refusal strategies based on the social context and power relations in
communication.
The first is domain analysis, which is the process of identifying and grouping data
into general categories. In this stage, researchers identified utterances containing
refusal strategies and grouped them based on the type of refusal strategy according to
Beebe et al.'s (1990) theory. The second is taxonomic analysis, which organizes the
classified data into more detailed and structured relationships. In this stage,
researchers grouped the data based on the character's power level, the interaction
context, and the type of refusal strategy used.
The third is componential analysis, which analyzes the differences and
relationships between data to identify the specific characteristics of each refusal
strategy. In this stage, researchers compared the use of refusal strategies between
characters with high and low power levels. The final stage is cultural theme analysis,
which identifies common themes or patterns that illustrate the relationship between
refusal strategies and power relations in institutional communication at The Crown.
Through these analytical stages, this research can produce an interpretation of the
influence of power on the use of refusal strategies.
The example of table componential
NC HIGH POWER LOW POWER
O DIR IND DIR IND
P N S R S W P C S S A A A P N S R S W P C S S A A A
O O S O O O O S O O
E P R S A H F F P L D F V E P R S A H F F P L D F V
R R N A A I R O R R N A A I R O
Notes:
C: Character
DIR: Direct Refusal
IND: Indirect Refusal
PER: Performative
NPR: Non-performative
SOR: Statement of Regret
RSN: Reason
SOA: Statement of Alternative
WSH: Wish
PFA: Promise Future Acceptance
CFA: Condition Future Acceptance
SOP: Statement of Principle
SOL: Statement of Philosophy
ADI: Attempt to Dissuade Interlocutor
AFR: Acceptance Function Refusal
AVO: Avoidance