Descriptive Research

Descriptive research design is a scientific method which involves observing and describing the
behavior of a subject without influencing it in any way. Descriptive research involves gathering
data that describe events and then organizes,tabulates, depicts, and describes the data collection.
Descriptive studies report summary data such as measures of central tendency including the
mean, median, mode, deviance from the mean, variation, percentage, and correlation between
variables. It is a type of qualitative research.

Descriptive research can be either quantitative or qualitative(mostly qualitative)

• Do teachers hold favorable attitudes toward using computers, in schools?
• What kinds of activities that involve technology occur in 6th-grade classrooms and how
frequently do they occur
• Is there a relationship between experience with multimedia computers and problem-solving
skills?

Types
1)Survey
Collects data in order to answer questions about the current status of a subject or topic of study
• Cross-sectional surveys use simple random, stratified, or cluster sampling techniques to study
population .Cross sectional: examines the frequency& characteristics of a disease Or specific
condition in a population. Used to assess the prevalence of acute or chronic conditions. A
cross-sectional design is used for research that collects data on relevant variables one time
only from a variety of people, subjects, or phenomena. The data are collected all at the same
time (or within a short time frame)
• Longitudinal survey is a correlational research study that involves repeated observations of
the same items over long periods of time,often many decades. Cohort survey is a type of this
where a specific population is examined by sampling different groups within the population
over time. COHORT:observational study of subjects with a specific condition. They are
followed over a period of time and compared with another group who are not affected by the
condition. Limitations: excessive time,influence of other lifestyle variables.
• Delphi techniques employ questionnaires but are quite different from the typical
questionnaire surveys. Asks a set of questions, then revises that set of questions repeatedly
based on the responses to each step before it
Examples:
School Surveys - Used to gather data concerned with internal or external characteristics of
a school system
Job Analysis - Used to gather information to be used in structuring a training program for a
particular job
Documentary Analysis - Closely akin to historical research; deals with documenting
present situations
Public Opinion Surveys - Used to enhance the decision making process by government
officials
Community Surveys - Used to gather data concerned with internal or external
characteristics of a community

2) Questionnaires
 • One can reach large numbers of people from wide geographic areas,
• Respondents have time to reflect on their answers or check information prior to responding and
relatively low cost of administration.

3)Interviews
• Face-to-face interviews and telephone interviews provide an opportunity to follow a line of
questioning to obtain more in-depth information.
• They produce a better return rate than mailed questionnaires
• you can use visual aids and prompts to get more information.

4)Observational Research
• Provides a means of collecting data by observing peoples behavior and qualitatively or
quantitatively analyze the observations.
• Observational Research is the process of watching people in context — in their natural
environment, doing routine activities(direct observation/unobtrusive observation).
• The major tool of Observational Research is videotaping where researchers can pay attention
to minute details that can often be overlooked.

5)Correlational Research
• Explores relationships that exist among variables.
• Sometimes predictions are made on the basis of the relationships.
• Cannot determine cause and effect. No manipulation of variables or experimental treatments

6)Case Studies
• It is a form of qualitative descriptive research.
• Probes in depth into an individual situation or personality with the intent of diagnosing a
particular condition and recommending corrective measures.
• Researchers collect data about participants using participant and direct observations,
interviews, protocols, tests, examinations of records, and collections of writing samples.
• It can extend experience or add strength to what is already known through previous research.
The advantages of the case study method are its applicability to real-life, contemporary,
human situations

7)Normative Research
• Normative research aims at improvements, which means that it includes evaluation of the
present state of things and also of the direction of future development. By definition,
evaluation is only possible from somebody's point of view.

Quantitative Research is like doing true experiment like an RCT. Once you do this you can do
qualitative to enhance the quality of research.
Qualitative Research examples: Interviews,Questionnaires,Surveys. they are non-experimental,do not
examine cause and effect relationship. Use data from research done on similar stuff in past to guide
your research.
PT uses only non-probability type of sampling. Minimum 6-8 samples.
For probability sampling min sample size is 30.