Research methodology week 03

Name: Ditha dwiastuti

NIM: X1004211478

Descriptive research

Descriptive research is used to describe characteristics of a population or phenomenon

being studied. It does not provide answers to the questions of how/when/why the
characteristics arose. Rather, it addresses the "what" question, such as what characteristics
of a population or situation are being studied?

The characteristics used to describe the situation or population are usually some kinds of
categorical scheme also known as descriptive categories. Descriptive research generally
precedes explanatory research.

Characteristics used to describe a situation or population are typically some types of

categorical scheme, also known as descriptive categories. Descriptive research usually
comes before explanatory research.

Descriptive research cannot explain why a situation occurred. As a result, descriptive

research cannot be used to establish a causal relationship in which one variable influence
another.

Descriptive research also sometimes called survey research in its nature is one of types of
quantitative research (Gall, Gall, & Borg, 2003). if you collect data from various sources to
gain a deeper understanding of individual participants, including their opinions,
perspectives, and attitudes (Nassaji, 2015), it becomes a descriptive qualitative research.

Descriptive research or survey research is a research conducted through a survey and an

observation by using questionnaire and interview. It also uses the same methods as qualitative
research in collecting data, such as surveys, observations, and case studies.

In other words, descriptive designs are a design to measure or observe natural phenomena
and describe them carefully.

Types of descriptive research:

— Observational: defined as a method of viewing and recording the participants

Observes the situation as it is without changing or modifying the situation and

Involves planning, attention to detail, time consuming, & requires multiple researches
(assistants). There are two types of descriptive research (observational) there is
quantitative and qualitative. In qualitative it is construct a complex picture of the
studied environment, while in quantitative it is rated for the accuracy, intensity,
maturity, etc.
— Correlational: defined as a study of the relation between two or more characteristics

In correlational it’s examines the extent to which differences in one characteristics or

variable are related to differences in one or more other characteristics or variables

— Developmental Research: defined as a study of how particular characteristics change

as people grow older.

Developmental research design is a study how a particular characteristics changes as

people grow older. Generally, there are two designs in developmental research design,
namely cross-sectional study design and longitude study design.

1. Cross-sectional study design

Cross-sectional study is a design in which data are collected from selected individuals
at a single point in time. The selected individuals can be based on age, environment,
gender, or other conditions. This design also has the advantage of providing data
relatively quickly

2. Longitude study design

Longitude study is a design in which the data are collected at two or more times. This
design is useful for studying the dynamics of a topic or issue over time. Longitude
study requires an extended commitment by the researcher and the participants.

— Survey: defined as a brief interview or discussion with an individual about a specific

topic

In survey it is involves acquiring information about one or more groups of people by

asking them questions and documenting their answers by creating a list of questions
and the questions must be answered by the participant.

Planning for Data Collection

— Interested in measuring one or more variables

1. Simple variables (length, weight, etc.)

2. Complex variables (people’s opinion, people’s reaction, etc.)

— Practical Applications:

1. Using Checklists & Rating Scales

2. Computerizing Observations
3. Planning & Conducting Interviews in Quantitative Study

4. Constructing & Administrating a Questionnaire

5. Using the Internet to Collect Data for a Descriptive Study

- Using Checklists & Rating Scales

Collecting data by using this types of practical applications for the example like
Participants measured their own views through the bars provided by the researcher by
listing structured questions.

- Computerizing Observations

Using Computer Applications to record the answers usually using preadsheet or

template in a document. Optimalizing the use of tablets or mobile scanning devices to
record the responses instead of pencil & paper. Google docs or Surveymonkey.com
are good examples for this practical application for data collection.

- Planning & Conducting Interviews in Quantitative Study

It is more than just asking questions and it should be carefully planned and worded
structurally.

- Constructing & Administrating a Questionnaire

It is likely to using technology to facilitate questionnares, and its is not easy as it

seems because this kind of practical data collection can be tricky and also the majority
of the cases deal with the low return rates.

- Using the Internet to Collect Data for a Descriptive Study

In practical applications the researcher also usually optimalizing the use of the intrnet
to collecting data for a descriptive study.