1. IMPROVING STUDENT’S SPEAKING MASTERY USING
INFORMATION GAP AT THE SECOND YEAR OF SMP N 3
KEBAKRAMAT KARANGANYAR IN 2007/2008
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Communication is an essential need for human being. Language as the tool of communication
has an important role to reveal an intention to someone else. People will be able to express
their thought and feeling by using language. Language, communication and life can not be
separated.
Language can be applied in many aspects, such as: education, society, politics, economics,
and culture. One of the ways in communication is through speaking. It is very important to
master speaking well. To master speaking ability, students must be trained to use English in
communication orally. The frequency in using the language will determine the success in
speaking ability. Without implementing the experience of learning the language in the real
life, it is difficult for the students to master speaking ability. Hence, speaking competence can
be accomplished by practicing it orally. In teaching English at the second grade of SMP N 3
Kebakkramat, the teacher teaches the students traditionally. They let the students only
memorize the vocabulary, instead of using it. Then, the teacher asks the students to write
down the words without asking the students to use it in the communication, yet some of the

2. students do not know the function of this language exercise. This teacher-centered technique
makes the student passive in learning English. The traditional method influences the teaching
of speaking in which there are many problems appear. First, it relates to the condition of
students who are lack of vocabulary which will make them unable to say words during
speaking class. Second, the students get used to speak their Javanese language. Third, they
rarely practice to use English to communicate. Fourth, most of the students are not confident
to use English in speaking class. For
instance, when the teacher asks them to come forward to have a conversation with their
friends, they refuse it. They are shy to perform English conversation in front of their friends.
Finally, the student is they are not interested in the material given to them. The teacher is also
having difficulties to teach in large class. The main problem is the way to manage it. During
the teaching hours the teacher should make the students pay attention to the materials given
to them. It needs hard work for getting the students attention. Lack of control also occurs
when they teach in the large class. Therefore, it is difficult to implement the individual
control for each student. Thus, the teacher cannot evaluate each student‟s proficiency. From
the problems above the writer tries to give a solution for the teacher to implement one of
teaching methods. There is a method of teaching learning method which is interesting and it
can improve student‟s ability and liveliness, namely information gap method. This method is
designed to create the students‟ interest to learn with pleasant method. The core of
information gap method is corporation between groups and shared. In an information gap
activity, one person has certain information that must be shared with others in order to solve a
problem, gather information or make decisions (Neu&Reeser). Information gap is a useful
activity in which one person has information that the other lacks. Another advantage of
information gap activities is that students are forced to negotiate meaning because they must
make what they are saying comprehensible to others in

3. order to accomplish the task (Neu&Reeser, 1997: 128) These types of activities are extremely
effective in the L2 classroom. They give every student opportunity to speak in the target
language for an extended period of time and students naturally produce more speech than
they would otherwise. In addition, speaking with peers is less intimidating than presenting in
front of the entire class and being evaluated.
If our goal as second language educator is to have our learners speak with confidence in the
target language, then we must make an effort to provide our students with a greater variety o
opportunities to speak in the target language. Information gap activities are an effective
means for accomplishing this goal.
B. Previous Study
The first previous research was done by Muljayanah (2004) entitled “The Implementation of
communicative language teaching speaking AT LIA SURAKARTA: Ethnography. In her
research, she describes the implementation of communicative language teaching and the
strength and the weakness of teaching speaking using communicative language teaching. The
second previous research was done by Dwi Henrie W. A (2002) entitled “Improving
Students‟ Pronunciation in Speaking Class through Repetition Technique: An Action
Research at the Fifth Year Students of SDN PREMULUNG. In his research, she describes the
implementation of
Repetition Technique to improve the students‟ pronunciation speaking ability. The previous
research describes the implementation of improving students‟ speaking mastery using
information gap. The present research also deals with the new technique applied in English
speaking at SMP N 3 KEBAKKRAMAT KARANGANYAR. So, it can be said that this
research
is quite different from the previous studies above.

4. C. Limitation of the Study
To make the problem easy to be discussed deeply, the writer focuses the problem as follows.
1. The subject of researcher in this research is the second grade students of SMP N 3
KEBAKKRAMAT KARANGANYAR.
2. The implementation of information gap technique to improve the students‟ speaking
mastery.
D. Problem Statement
The problems that will be studied in this research are stated as follows.
1. How is the implementation of Information Gap Technique to improve
the students‟ speaking mastery?
2. Does information gap technique improve the students‟ speaking mastery?
3. What are the students‟ response on the implementation of information gap technique?
E. Objective of the Study
This research is aimed at
1. describing the implementation of information gap to improve the students‟ speaking
mastery.
2. describing the improvement of the students‟ speaking mastery.
3. describing the students‟ response on the implementation of information gap technique.
F. Benefit the Study
1. Theoretical Benefit
a. The result of the research can be useful for students on pronunciation, memorize and
vocabulary in implementation of information gap.
b. The result of the research can be useful for English teacher in implementation of
information gap to improve the speaking mastery.

5. c. The result of the research is used as the reference for those who want to conduct a research
of students‟ speaking mastery using information gap.
2. Practical Benefit
a. The result will help the teacher increasing the students‟ speaking mastery.
b. The result will help the students in increasing their speaking mastery.
c. The result will help the students to increasing their speaking ability in interaction with
each other.
d. The result will give the information to the teacher in the way in carrying out the
information gap on teaching speaking to increase the students‟ speaking mastery.
G. Research Paper Organization
The research paper comprises five chapters; chapter 1 is introduction which covers
background of the study, previous study, problem statement, objective of the study, benefit of
the study, and research paper organization. Chapter II is underlying theories that consist of
the notion of teaching speaking and the notion of information gap method. Chapter III is
research method that consists of type of research, object of the study, subject of the study,
research location, research procedure, and method of collecting data and technique for
analyzing data. Chapter IV is related to the process of the implementation of teaching
speaking using information gap method, the result of the implementation of teaching
speaking using information gap method in teaching learning process and the student‟s
opinion on the implementation of information gap technique.
Chapters V is conclusion and suggestion.
CHAPTER II
UNDERLYING THEORY

6. In this chapter, the researcher would like elaborate the theory related to the research which is
done by the researcher. It is crucial for the researcher and the readers to recognize the
definition or the meaning of title of this research in order to make easier for the researcher in
analyzing and
understanding the problem deeply. Follows are the theories that will be discussed in this
research globally: teaching speaking and information gap.
A. Teaching Speaking
1. Notion of Speaking
Speaking skill should be taught and practiced in the language classroom. Because the
language course truly enables the students to communicate in English, so speaking skill needs
the special treatment. In the reality, in our daily life most of us speak more than we write; yet
many English teachers still spend the majority of class time on reading and writing practice
almost ignoring speaking and listening skills. Based on the statement above, there should be a
good balance to practice in classroom. According to Hornby (1995:826) speaking is making
use of wordsm in an ordinary voice, offering words, knowing and being able to use a
language expressing one-self in words, and making speech. Therefore the writer infers that
speaking uses the word and produces the sound to express ourselves either ideas, feeling,
thought and needs orally in an ordinary voice. Furthermore, success in communication is
often dependent as much on the listener as on the speaker.
There are three components to make fluent in producing speech, namely vocabulary,
pronunciation, and grammar. According to Walter (1973:11) speaking is one way of learning
about one self. In speaking, someone must face problems that have history and relatively to
other people, groups, and the predictions we have formed for living together. While Tarigan
(1990:3) states speaking that is gotten by the children preceded by listening skill. After

7. getting the language input the students are able to master speaking skill. So that, speaking is
the way to
express our idea and feeling to one another.
2. Notion of Teaching Speaking
Teaching speaking is sometimes considered as a simple process of commercial language
school around the world, which hires people with no training to teach conversation. Although
speaking is totally natural, speaking in a language other than our own is anything but simple
(Nunan, 2003:48). Based on the statement above that teaching conversation to the students in
foreign language is simple. Because learning spoken language sometimes ignores the
grammar rule and the other hand the students need to form good habit in English speaking
practice.
Furthermore, the writer will elaborate the notion of teaching according to oxford advanced
learner‟s dictionary teaching which means giving the instruction to someone else: give
someone else ( knowledge, skill, etc )
While Haskew and Mc Lendon in Sutopo, (2000:9) states as follows:
a. Teaching is action to increase the odds that potential learners will learn.
b. Teaching is action to point learning toward desired to accomplishment by learners.
c. Teaching is action to make knowledge create sense.
d. Teaching is to present learners a live opportunity to learn.
e. Teaching is action to enhance the persons who are learning.
Moreover, teaching speaking skill emphasizes on the activities to make the students active
and creative. West (1968) in Fauziati,(2002:145) states that to increase students‟ speaking
mastery the teacher must concern with the student –to –student –interaction. The great part of
time in the process of learning speaking is dominated by students. Afterwards, it‟s dominated
by the instructor. This maximizes the students‟ competence in speaking. The students learn

8. what they are going to say with other in front of the class and try to develop their creativity
orally. Therefore, the writer tries to give definition of teaching speaking is the instruction of
the teacher/tutor to the students to encourage them in using the language orally to express
their ideas, feeling and opinion to someone else and also encourage the potential of the
learners to develop their speaking skill naturally.
3. Element of Speaking
In speaking, it is very important for student to acquire the ability to express their ideas and
opinions. Consequently, this competency should be mastered by the learners of language.
Following are the elements of speaking ability according to (Harmer, 2001:269-271), a.
language features such as the connected speech, expressive devices, lexis and grammar, and
negotiation language. Connected speech is the modifying in sounds production or utterances
such as assimilation, omission, addition, weakened (through contraction and stress
patterning). An expressive device is the alteration of the speed, volume, and stress of
utterances to show the feeling. The use of this device contributes the ability to convey
meaning. Then lexis and grammar is necessary for the teacher to give of supply of certain
words and language function, such as agreeing or disagreeing, surprise, and so forth. Those
make students can produce at various stages of an interaction.
Lastly, negotiation language is the benefits to clarify and to show the structure what we are
saying. Therefore, those elements are completely significant a speaking ability.
Furthermore, Harmer (2001: 104) states that the other element of the speaking is
mental/social processing except the language skill for the speaker, but the rapid processing
skill is also necessary, such as language processing, interaction, and information processing.
The language

9. processing is the effective speaker to convey their intention to someone else and they process
the words or retrieval of words or phrases from memory to communicate with people. It helps
the students to develop habits of rapid language processing English. Then, interaction is the
student interacting with the other and they understand each other. Lastly, information
processing is related to the perception of some else concerning the response to other feeling
in using the language. Consequently, the mental has important role to succeed the
communication particularly in speaking ability.
4. Principles of Teaching Speaking
Principles of teaching speaking are as follows (Harmer, 2001: 102)
a. Help students overcome their initial reluctance to speak. Be encouraging; provide
opportunity; start from something simple;
b. Ask students to talk about what they want to talk about.
c. Ask students to talk about what they are able to talk about.
d. Provide appropriate feedback.
e. Combine speaking with listening and reading.
f. Incorporate the teaching of speech acts in teaching speaking.
5. Method of Teaching Speaking
The method of teaching speaking as suggested by Harmer (1998:95) is Engage Activate-
Study. Engage means that the teacher gives warming to the students. For instance: the topic
of the discussion is about „daily activity,‟ so, the teacher tells or gives stimuli to the students
concerning with the topic. Then, activate the teacher give an opportunity to the students to
express their ideas and opinions. Afterwards, study means that it concerns with the material
of the discussion. Therefore, the students can get the learning experience.

10. The other method of teaching speaking skill is through information gap activities that are
suggested by Raptou (2001: 211). Information gap is useful activity in which one person has
information that the other lacks. They must use the target language to share that information.
For instance, one student has the directions to a party and must give them to a classmate. One
type of speaking activity involves the so-called „information gap‟-where two speakers have
different parts of information making up a whole. Because they have different information,
there is a „gap‟ between them.
6. Classroom Speaking Activities
The activities of speaking class are as follows (Harmer, 2001:271-274).
a. Acting from a script.
In this section the teacher asks the students to perform the play based on the dialogue in the
script. Thus, the teacher as the director and the students perform the dialogue.
b. Communication Games
A game is one of activities that can help students relaxed in learning the language. This
technique is particularly suitable for the children in mastering the language. It is designed to
provoke communication between students, so that the students has to talk to a partner in order
to solve a puzzle, draw a picture, puts the things in right order, and differences between
picture.
c.Discussion
The problem in conducting the discussion is the students‟ reluctant to give opinion in front of
their friends. Particularly when the students are not mastering the topic of discussion.
Therefore to encourage the students is to provide activities which force the students in
expressing the ideas

11. through the topic which is familiar with student‟s world. For instance, are: their daily activity,
the situation of their class, and describing.
d. Problem solving
The material is used in this technique giving the students to work in pairs or groups. They
share their problem, opinion and feeling. In this case the teacher as the bridge to
communicate among the participants. Then, the students give a question and answer each
other. This communication will help the students practicing and expressing their ideas in
spoken language.
e. Role Play
A popular way of the aspect of speaking activities is to use simulations and role plays. This
is where students pretend that they are in a different situation, either as themselves or playing
the role of someone is quite different. We could ask them to be guest at some parties and go
there
as different characters. They could, as themselves, pretend to be at an airport trying to check
luggage, or either as themselves or another character take part in a television program. In all
these cases the students are using language in order to participate in the activity rather than
other
way round! Some students find it very comfortable to use language in a simulated
environment, playing the role of someone else –it allows them to experiment freely to be
another people.
7. Problem in Speaking Skill
The learners have their own difficulties in learning the language. Particularly in improving
speaking skill is not easy for the students. The Following are the problems of speaking skill
(Munjayanah ,2004:17):
a. Inhabitation

12. : unlike reading, writing or listening activities, speaking requires some degree of real-time
exposure to an audience. Learners are often inhibited about trying to say thing in foreign
language in the classroom: worried about mistakes or simply shy of the attention that their
speech attract.
b. Nothing to say
. Even they are not inhibited, you often hear learners complain that they cannot think of
anything to say: they have no motive to express themselves beyond the guilty feeling that
they should be speaking.
c. Low or uneven participation
. Only one participant can talk at a time if he or she is to be heard; and in large group this
means the each one will have only very little talking time. This problem is compounded
of some learners to dominate, while other speaks very little or not at all.
d. Mother tongue use
. It is easier for the student to use their mother tongue in their class because it looks naturally.
Therefore, most of the students are not disciplined in using the target language in the learning
process.
B. Information Gap
Information gap is a useful activity in which one person has information that the other lacks.
They must use the target language to share that information. For instance, one student has the
directions to a party and must give them to a classmate. I teach core French at the secondary
level and students complain that when they go to a French-speaking part of the world, they
cannot say what they wish to say in French, even thought they have had years of French
education. We, therefore, need to actively engage students in speaking activities that are
enjoyable and that are based on a more communicative approach. One solution is using an
information gap activity that is suggested by Violet Raptou (2001: 213) One of the challenges

13. many second language-teachers face is motivating their students to speak in the target
language, confident students always participate and students who are less confident are
reluctant to speak.
Even when students speak in the target language, they are usually answering a question and
this approach greatly limits students output. Oral presentations provide opportunities for
students to speak in the target language for an extended period of time and these activities are
useful, but
they should not be the only opportunities students have to speak at length. Because students
prepare for this presentation by writing a script and then rehearsing it, they have difficulty
speaking in the target language spontaneously because they are given little opportunity to do
so. When students choose learn a language, they are interested in learning to speak that
language as fluently as possible. One solution is using information gap activities. In
information gap activity, one person has certain information that must be shared with others
in order to solve a problem, gather information or make decisions (Neu & Reeser, 1997).
These types of activities are
extremely effective in the L2 classroom. They give every student to opportunity to speak in
the target language for an extended period of time and students naturally produce more
speech than they would otherwise. In addition, speaking with peers is less intimidating than
presenting in front of the entire class and being evaluated. Another advantage of information
gap
activities is that students are forced to negotiate meaning because they must make what they
are saying comprehensible to others in order to accomplish the task (Neu & Reeeser, 1997:
156).
C. Conceptual Framework

14. Information gap is useful activity in which one person has information that the other lacks.
They must use the target language to share that information. For instance, one student has the
directions to a party and must give them to a classmate. With information gap give each
student has an opportunity to speak in the target language for an extended period of time and
students naturally produce more speech than they would otherwise and in this activity the
students must make what they are saying comprehensible to others. As a result, such a
technique can improve students‟ speaking mastery.
D. Action Hypothesis
Dealing with the underlying theories, the action hypothesis of this research is: By giving
information gap technique, the students‟ speaking mastery can be improved or better”.
E. Performance Indicator
The writer needs to establish some criteria in order to know whether the research is effective
or event not. The writer considers the research to be effec tive if the subjects of the study are
able to increase students‟ achievement after being taught through information gap technique.
Here, the
subject is categorized as successful, if the students‟ scores belong adequate level. While an
adequate level is titled to subject that is not only able to improve but also to convey, at least
the standard of performance which is 2.9. It means that teaching speaking using information
gap is
significant. It is line with the score as explained below:
CHAPTER III
RESEARCH METHOD
A. Type of the Study

15. In this research, the writer uses classroom a ction research (CAR). Mc Niff (1992) in
Arikunto (2006:102) states that action research is a form of self-reflective inquiry undertaken
by participants in a social (including educational) situation in order to improve the rationality
and justice of their own social or educational practices as well as their understanding of these
practices and the situations in which these practices are carried out. It consists of planning,
acting/implementing, observing, and reflecting. Furthermore, Kasbolah (2001:15-17) states
that there are four characteristics of action research; firstly, the action research is carried out
by practitioners rather than outside rese archer. In this research, the classroom action research
was carried out by the researcher and English teacher as the collaborator. Secondly, action
research is the systematic study attempting to overcome real problems. In this research the
classroom
action research (CAR) was the attempts to overcome students‟ problem in speaking mastery.
Thirdly, the action research is intended to change thing to be better than before. In this
research, the class action research (CAR) was intended to change the students‟ ability in
speaking mastery to be better than before. Fourthly, action research is a kind of collaborative
research, it means that the research take participants in the form of a team consisting of
insider and outsiders. Then insiders were some teachers who want to do action research and
outsiders were the researchers in their field. In this research, the classroom action research
(CAR) was done by the writer and the English teacher.
B. Action Procedures
In this Classroom Action Research (CAR), the writer used the CAR principle to collect the
data. The research consist of three cycles with each cycle consist of four elements. The writer
describes the cycles through the scheme of action research steps and each of the phases can
be explained briefly as follows:
The cycle of Classroom Action Research (Hopkins, 1993: 52)

16. a. Planning
In this phase, the writer makes the lesson plan and then chooses teaching aids to imply the
information gap method. In this phase, the writer use dialogue, short paragraph, describe and
draw material.
b. Acting
The teacher puts the class into four groups, calling them A, B, C, D. To each group he gives
one of the pictures. The students in the groups have to memorize everything they can about
the
pictures-which‟s in them, what‟s happening etc. They can talk about the details in their
groups.
The teacher now takes the pictures and asks for one student from each group (A, B, C, and D)
to form a new four person group. He tells them that they have seen different picture but that
the
pictures taken together. The task is for the students to work out what the story is. The only
way they can do this is by describing their pictures to each other and speculating on how they
are
connected. The final stories may be different. The groups tell the whole class what their
version is, and the teacher can finally re- show the pictures.
c. Observing
In this phase, the writer observs the students response, participation and everything which is
found during the teaching and learning process.
In speaking learning process, most of the student are interested in information gap method.
Sometimes, from one group to other group do a mistake, like: misunderstanding, unability to
memorize the story.

17. d. Reflecting
After collecting the data, the writer will evaluate the teaching-learning process. Then, the
writer will reflect herself by seeing the result of the observation, whether the teaching
learning process of speaking using information gap method is good to imply in teaching
learning process at SMP N 3 KEBAKKRAMAT KARANGANYAR in 2007/2008 Academic
Year or not. If the first
plan is unsuccessful, the writer should make the next plan (re- planning) to get a good result.
During the process of the action research in the first class of SMP N 3 KEBAKKRAMAT
KARANGANYAR, the writer uses the diary and document as the instrument for gathering
the data. Diaries contain personal accounts of the observation on feeling, reaction,
interpretations, reflections, explanations and documents are used to provide information,
which is relevant to the problem under investigation. The documents used by the writer are
lesson plan and the sample of children‟s work. Mc Cormick James (1983) in (Tilston,
2002:52) state that the successful document used is still photography in the collection on
information, particularly when evidence is being collected to evaluate lessons. So, the writer
includes the photography as the document too. Furthermore, Kasbolah (2001:15-17) states
that there are four characteristics of action research; firstly, the action research is carried out
by practitioners rather than outside researcher. In this research, the classroom action research
was carried out by the researcher and English
teacher as the collaborator. Secondly, action research is the systematic study attempting to
overcome real problems. In this research the classroom action research (CAR) was the
attempts to overcome students‟ problem in speaking mastery. Thirdly, the action research is
intended to change thing to be better than before. In this research, the class action research
(CAR) was intended to change the students‟ ability in speaking mastery to be better than
before. Fourthly, action research is a kind of collaborative research, it means that the research

18. take participants in the form of a team consisting of insider and outsiders. Then insiders were
some teachers who
want to do action research and outsiders were the researchers in their field. In this research,
the classroom action research (CAR) was done by the mwriter and the English teacher.
C. Research Location
This research takes place at SMP N 3 KEBAKRAMAT KARANGANYAR. The writer
chooses this place to do an action research because the writer sees it necessary to develop the
way in teaching particularly to develop the students‟ speaking mastery in junior high school.
In teaching English at the second grade of SMP N 3 Kebakkramat Karanganyar, teacher
teaches the students traditionally. They let the students only memorize the vocabulary,
instead of using it and they don‟t know about information gap. So, the researcher want to do
the research in this school.
D. Object of the Study
The object of the study is teaching speaking learning-process using information gap method
to the second grade of SMP N 3 KEBAKKRAMAT KARANGANYAR in 2007/2008
Academic Year.
E. Subject of the Study
The subject of the study is to the second grade students of SMP N 3 KEBAKKRAMAT
KARANGANYAR in 2007/2008 Academic Year. There are 40 students in class VIII a.
F. Method of Collecting Data
The method is a means that is used to solve problems. There are some methods of collecting
data. They are observation, interview and test. In this case the data are taken from the source
by employing observation and test.
1. Observation

19. The writer does the observation directly toward teaching speaking learning-process in SMP N
3 KEBAKKRAMAT KARANGANYAR 2008/2009 Academic Year. In this research, the
writer acts as an active observer. The writer interacts with the students as well as the teacher.
In speaking lesson, the writer observes their speaking skill, such as; their pronunciation,
vocabulary, memorizes and their brave in speaking lesson.
2. Test
According to Sudjana (1987:16) a test means some question to students to be answered. The
test is used to compare the students‟ speaking achievements before conducting the research
(post-test) and after conducting the research (pre-test). The form of the test can be grouped
into three forms, namely: oral, written, and behavior form. In this research, the writer
conducts an oral test. The students make story depend on picture, what they do or everything
in the picture. Then,
they memorize the story and tell to their friend in front of class or other group.
3. Interview
One of the ways to get deep and more information in the classroom the writer will interview
the English teacher. In here, the researcher takes 10 samples of 40 students. What‟s problem
of speaking, about speaking lesson during before and after using information gap method in
speaking lesson.
G. Data and Data Source
The data of this research are the procedure and the result of teaching speaking using
information gap. The result is in the form of the comparison between pretest and post-test
score. The sources of data in this study are:
1. Event
It is the teaching speaking using information gap in the second grade of SMP N 3
KEBAKKRAMAT KARANGANYAR.

20. 2. Informant
The informant is the English teacher and students in SMP N 3 Kebakkramat Karanganyar.
3. Place
The researcher observes and teaches in the classroom of SMP N 3 Kebakkramat
Karanganyar.
H. Technique for Analyzing Data
The researcher conducts the action research of teaching speaking using information gap
technique at the second grade of SMP N 3 KEBAKKRAMAT KARANGANYAR. What
follows are steps in analyzing the data based on Miles and Huberman (1984: 170).
a. Reducting the data
This is the first component in analyzing the data that contains selection process, focusing, and
summarizing data from field notes. In this step, the researchers‟ selects, limits, and
summarize the data from the implementation of teaching speaking using information gap
technique.
b. Displaying the data
The second step of analyzing the data is describing the data in narrative which the research
conclusion will be possible to be done. This step is describing the result of the research which
is described in systematic and logic sentence, therefore the result is understandable the form
of displaying is not always in the sentences, but can displayed in table form which supports
the narrative data.
c. Drawing Conclusion
The last step is the researcher makes conclusion of the research. Then the researcher also
verifies the conclusion the technique is by discussing the research conclusion with the
collaborator of the research. This step is very important to be done in order to get good
research conclusion.