My Research Instrument

The instruments that will be utilized for this study are, interview, online discussion board and via email. The purpose of the instruments is to gather the data qualitatively to answer the research questions, which are:

1) To what extent do the UiTM APB English lecturers perceive the use of Social Network Services (SNSs) to be relevant in the ESL writing classroom?

2) What do lecturers view as the strengths and weaknesses of integrating Social Network Services (SNSs) in the ESL writing classroom?

3) What type of Social-Network related activities are being use by lecturers enhance the students’ writing skills in the ESL classroom?

3.4.1 Interview

The set of interview questions were constructed based on the literature review. 

The interview will be conducted to gather information on how lecturers perceive the use of social network services (SNSs) in the ESL writing classroom, the strength and weaknesses of integrating SNSs in the ESL writing classroom and what are the social-network related activities used to enhance students writing skills. The interview will be recorded, and transcribed, and the researcher will then identify the codes and generated the themes and the findings will be analysed and reported.

3.4.2 Online Discussion Board

An online discussion board will also be created via Facebook where questions will be posted where selected respondents will be requested to answer the questions and interact with one another during the discussion session. After three weeks, the discussion will be completed and the contents of the discussion will be collected. The data will be coded, categorized and interpreted. The comments will be analysed and reported by using quotes from the respondents’ views and answers.

3.4.3 Email

Information will correspondingly be obtained from response via email. The researcher will email the interview questions through email to the selected respondents. And after the respondents have completed and replied to the researcher, the response via email will be coded, categorized and interpreted. It will then be analysed and reported using the quotes from the respondents’ responses.