Sample Methodology
HUFLIT

Topic: The Contrast of the Ergativity between English and
Vietnamese
3.1. Introduction:
This research is a quantitative comparative study. To be more
specific, it is comparative because it provides a descriptive
comparison on an uncommon phenomenon in English and
Vietnamese. As choosing a suitable methodology for the thesis
is an important factor that influences on the success of the
research, the proper means of data collection and the use of
data will be presented in the chapter. Besides, the chapter will
also describe the procedural steps used in the study.

3.2. Objective:
This study was in the objective of discovering the similarities and the
differences of the ergativity in English and Vietnamese. From the
outcomes of the paper, some recommendations are given to aware
readers about the usage of ergative sentences as well as to encourage
more research about this phenomenon.
3.3 Subjects

The subjects of the study includes over 300 ergative verbs which are
presented in bilingual list, English and Vietnamese.

3.4. Methods:
*Data collection:
In order to compare and contrast the ergativity in both
languages according to Dixon's and Halliday's
perspective, resources of texts are required. Hence, we
have created a corpus by collecting the majority of
authentic examples from short stories, daily
conversations, textbooks, grammar books and in other
studies done by Vietnamese and English linguists.

*Data analysis:
After gathering enough data for the research, the collected
information are categorized into English and Vietnamese sentences.
The data then will be illustrated according to Dixon and Halliday's
perspectives. Finally, the results will be discussed and the possible
reasons will be explained.
3.5. Instruments:
In this studies, a framework of data collection has been developed by
consulting the criteria of a passive form proposed by Dixon (1994).
Another system (S,A, and O) from Dixon and the functional approach
towards languages by Halliday (2014) are used to analyze the
collected data in the form of tables.

Topic: A STUDY ON PIDGIN ENGLISH OF SALESPEOPLE AND STREET VENDORS AT BEN THANH MARKET
As choosing a suitable methodology for the thesis is an important factor that
influences on the success of the research, the proper means of data collection and
the use of data will be presented in the chapter. Besides, the chapter will also
describe the procedural steps used in the study.
3.1 Objectives
In the research, there are two kinds of questionnaires distributed to the foreign
visitors who have visited Ben Thanh market and Vietnamese salespeople and street
vendors working at the market as well. The purpose of the first one is to find out the
attitudes of the foreigners toward the language phenomenon called Pidgin English

In terms of the second questionnaire delivered to Vietnamese
participants, it is hoped that through this questionnaire, some main
characteristics and the effectiveness of the above language in business
process are revealed. Furthermore, some recommendations for
improving this special language will be suggested.
Besides, brief interviews of Vietnamese salespeople and street vendors
are also conducted to determine some typical Pidgin English words
and sentences.

3.2 Subjects
The subjects of the study consisted of 200 foreigners who have visited Ben
Thanh market and 200 Vietnamese salespeople and street vendors working at the
market. The subjects were chosen at random and in person around the market
area.
3.3 Method
3.3.1 Research family
The study is a combination of both quantitative and qualitative methods.
However, the first one plays a leading role in the research as questionnaire is
used mainly to collect the data.

3.3.2 Research approach
There are four kinds of approaches usually used in a study
namely action research, case study, experiments and survey.
In this study, the researcher chose survey as a main approach
of the thesis because it can provide generalized results and a
lot of data quickly.
3.3.3 Sampling technique
Questionnaire is applied as a main tool of the survey.
Additionally, interviews and documents are also used to make
the research complete.

3.4 Procedure
Setting up the questionnaire
First of all, some records of the conversations between foreign
customers and people doing business at Ben Thanh market are
conducted as a basic investigation to get the idea of
questionnaire designing. Through those references, the research
questions are raised. Finally, based on the determined aim of the
thesis and those research questions, the two questionnaires are
set up to find out the answers.
The first questionnaire: There are 10 questions divided into two
parts including the first two background questions and the other
eight questions which determine the attitudes of foreign

customers at Ben Thanh market toward Pidgin English of the
merchants there.
The second questionnaire: There are 11 questions designed to
collect the data from Vietnamese sellers doing business at the
market. The first four questions are related to background
information of the respondents and the other ones aim at finding
out some main characteristics and the effectiveness of Pidgin
English in the business process. Furthermore, advantages and
shortcomings of salespeople and street vendors when using such
kind of language to deal with foreign customers are also
explored. This questionnaire istotally designed in Vietnamese.

Analyzing the data:
After distributing the whole questionnaires to both foreign and
Vietnamese respondents, the collected information are
categorized and coded in numerical form. The numerical data
then will be expressed in charts and tables put in the report.
Finally, those results will be discussed and the possible reasons
will be explained.

Topic: SOME SUGGESTED TREATMENTS FOR GRADE 12
STUDENTS' ERRORS IN VERB TENSES
As stated before, error analysis is quite significant for exploring
English teaching rules and improving teaching methods. Error
analysis theory is also a useful means in English teaching and
study. In this section of my research, I will present rationale for
choosing a specific method and how the methods were applied
to real classrooms. The rationale as well as methods with data
collection procedure will be described.
 3.1. Objectives:
This section presents the research methodology used in this
study and gives information about the population and the

sample. It also describes the data collection instruments and
procedures. Finally, it describes the validity and reliability of the
instruments and gives information about the data analysis.
3.2. Subjects:
Students:
Data is collected from two class: controlled class (12A2) and
experimental class (12A14). Class 12A2 consists of 47 students
and class 12A14 includes 44 students. All students are
approximately in the same level with at least 6 years in English
learning which is considered to be above beginner level. The GPA
(grade point average) in English in the two classes for the first
semester was around 7 which was under average but not good.

This result means that the two classes share the same level in
English.
3.3. Location:
This research is carried out at Bui Thi Xuan high school which is
among top 10 of high schools in Ho Chi Minh City. This school has
reputation for modern facility which creates a pleasant learning
environment to stimulate students'acquisition. Particularly, each
classroom is equipped with film projector and a computer that
are good instruments for modern English approaches, which
made it ideal to conduct this research effectively.

3.4. Research method:
The research makes use of action research and documents such as
questionnaires, observation, designing lesson plans and tests. The
primary source of method for this study is the small-scale exploration of
the application of error analysis in teaching English simple tenses. An
irreplaceable part of the research is the analysis of errors and the ways
to correct them.
3.5. Procedures:
Pre-testing:
Pre-test in the controlled class (12A2) and in the experimental class
(12A14) is aimed at confirming that there was no significant difference
in the knowledge of verb tenses between the two classes. The test
which lasted 15 minutes is in the form of “filling the blank”. In addition,
it consisted of 15 sentences with blanks that can be filled up by

propriate verb tenses. Besides, in order to minimize the stress and
the chances of cheating, the students were told that this test would
not have any influence on their on-going assessment.
Applying suggested treatments for students' errors on verb tenses:
After pretesting, the controlled class 12A2 was given a lesson in which
the teacher reviewed verb tenses for them without any treatments for
errors. In contrast, the experimental class 12A14 was provided a review
with suggested treatments for errors. Both class spent 2 periods, each
of which lasted 45 minutes.
Post-testing
The results are shown and compared.

Questionnaire:
Questionnaire was prepared for students in the experimental class
12A14 to evaluate their attitude towards suggested treatments that
had been applied for errors on tenses. This questionnaire was
designed with items concerning students' agreement or disagreement.

Good luck!