DESCRIPTIVE

RESEARCH
Prepared by:

GINA V. CONDECION & KAYCEL C. MATILLA

What is Descriptive Research?
• Manuel and Medel defined descriptive research as, it describes what is. It
involves the description, recording, analysis and interpretation of the present
nature, composition or processes of phenomena.

• Aquino gives this definition: Descriptive Research is fact-finding with

adequate interpretation. The true meaning of the data collected should be
reported from the point of view of the objectives and the basic assumption of
the project underway.
Descriptive Research is defined by best in the
following way:
• Descriptive research describes and interprets what is. It is concerned with
conditions of relationships that exist; practices that prevail; beliefs; processes
that are going on; effects that are being felt or trends that are developing.
• The process of descriptive research goes beyond mere gathering and
tabulation of data. It involves the elements o interpretation of the meaning or
significance of what is described. (Sanchez p.83)
• In other words, descriptive research is a purposive process of gathering,
analyzing, classifying and tabulating data about prevailing conditions,
practices, beliefs, processes, trends, and cause amd effect relationships and
then making adequate and accurate interpretation about such data with or
without the aid of statistical methods.
Characteristics of Descriptive Research
• Descriptive research ascertains prevailing conditions offacts in a group or case under
study.
• It gives either a qualitative or quantitative, or both, description of the general
characteristics of the group or case under study.
• What caused the prevailing conditions is not emphasized.
• Study of conditions at different periods of time may be made and the change or
progress that took place between the periods may be noted or evaluated for any value
it gives.
• Comparisons of the characteristics of two groups or cases may be made to determine
their similarities and differences
• The variables or conditions studied in descriptive research are not usually controlled.
• Descriptive studies, except in case studies, are generally cross-sectional, that is , it
studies the different sections belonging to the same group.
• Studies on prevailing conditions may or can be repeated for purposes of verification
and comparison.
Value, Importance and Advantages of
Descriptive Research
• Contributes to the formulation of principles and generalizations in behavioral
sciences.
• Contributes much to establishment of standard norms of conduct, behavior or
performance.
• Reveals problems or abnormal conditions so that remedial measures may be
instituted.
• Descriptive research makes possible the prediction of the future on the basis of
findings on prevailing conditions, correlations, and on the basis of reactions of
people toward certain issues.
• It gives a better and deeper understanding of a phenomenon on the basis of an in-
depth study of the phenomenon.
• It provides a basis for decision-making.
• Helps fashion many of the tools with which we do research, such as, instruments for
the measurement of may things, instruments that are employed in all types of
quantitative research.
TECHNIQUES UNDER THE DESCRIPTIVE
RESEARCH

1. Survey
2. Case Study
3. Content Analysis
 Differences Between Survey and Case
Study
SURVEY
• The group surveyed is usually large.
• The number of aspects in the life of the group
surveyed is limited.
• Cause-effect relationships are not given
emphasis. It’s aim is to determine status.
• Curiosity, interest or just to determine norm or
status may initiate a survey.
• Only conditions or practices present during the
survey are considered except in comparative
studies when present conditions are compared
with conditions int the past.
CASE STUDY
• Usually involves one person, family, small
group or small community.
• Usually all aspects or variables in the life
cycle of the case under the study is included.
• Finding the causes of certain phenomena is
always a part of a case study.
• The result of a single case study do not
provide certainty that the case is truly
representative.
• Abnormalities or undesirable traits usually
initiate case study.
• Data about the case from birth or origin or
even of the future are considered.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Survey
Approach
Advantages
• Reveals what is typical, average or normal against
which the behavior of an individual can be judged.
• The results of a survey may be used for prediction.
• Survey makes possible the formulation of
generalizations because the sample has a high
degree of representativeness.
• Survey reveals problems for which timely remedial
measures may be instituted.
• It is easy to get respondents.
• The instruments for gathering data are easy to
determine, construct, validate and administer.
Disadvantages
• Lack of manipulation over independent variables.
• One cannot progressively investigate one aspect
after another of the independent variable to get
closer to the real cause.
• Statistical devices are not always able to separate
the effects of several independent.
• Survey approach yields a low degree of control or
there is no control at all over extraneous
variables.
• The instrument for gathering data may lack
validity, reliability ar adequacy.
Types Of Survey Technique or Approach
1. TOTAL POPULATION SURVEY- the entire population is involved in the survey.
2. SAMPLE SURVEY- Only a sample or portion of the population is involved in the
survey.
3. SOCIAL SURVEY- the investigator researches on the attitudes and behaviors of
different groups of people.
4. SCHOOL SURVEY- used to gather data for and about schools and to assess educational
achievement and education itself.
5. PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY- used to gauge the reactions of people towards certain
issues or persons.
6. POLL SURVEY- The respondents are asked if they are voting for a certain candidate in
an election.
• MARKET SURVEY-its aimed is finding out what kinds of people purchase which
products, advertising and displaying affect buying, prices and so on.
• EVALUATION SURVEY- The researcher looks back to see what has been accomplished
and with a critical eye, evaluates the results whether they are satisfactory or not, with the
end in view of making improvements.
• COMPARATIVE SURVEY- the results from two different groups, techniques or
procedures are compared.
• SHORT-TERM SURVEY- data are collected over a period of weeks, months, or even
years but the period should be less than five years.
• LONG-TERM SURVEY- any survey conducted for more than five years is a long-term
survey.
• LONGITUDINAL SURVEY- The researchers may carry out such studies by asking their
subjects questions about a past event and compare their responses to the present affairs of
things.
• CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY- several groups in various stages of involvement are
studied simultaneously.
• JOB ANALYSIS SURVEY- This provides information on the general duties and
responsibilities of workers.
• COMMUNITY SURVEY- provides information on the various aspects of the community.
• CORRELATION STUDY- it shows the relationship between two or more variables, that is,
how a variable varies with another.
 CASE STUDY AND CASE
WORK
CASE STUDY CASE WORK
• It involves a comprehensive and extensive • It refers to the developmental, adjustment,
examination of a particular individual, group or remedial or corrective procedures that
situation over a period of time. (Mckee and appropriately follow diagnosis of the causes of
Robertson, 1975). maladjustment or of favorable development.
(Good and Scates)
• Young (1966) defines case study as a
“comprehensive study of a social unit- be that
unit a person, a social institution, a group, a
district or community.

• Good and Scates define case study as that method

which takes account of all pertinent aspects of
one thing or situation, employing as the unit for
study an individual, an institution, a community
or any group considered as a unit.
 CASE METHOD
- It has been employed to
describe a plan of organizing
and presenting instructional
materials in law, medicine,
social work, and even in
education psychology,
sociology, where as a rule,
the case materials used are
the product of case study
investigation. (Ibid)
CASE HISTORY
- It is a biography obtained
by interview and other
means, sometimes
collected over the years to
enable us to understand the
problems of an individual
and to suggest ways of
solving them. (Wolman
1973)
- “ a complete medical,
psychology, and social
history of a patient.
(Sanchez)
CLINICAL METHOD
- A process by which we
collect all available
evidence- social,
psychological, educational,
biographical and medical
that promises to help us
understand individual child.
Every child who is referred
for evaluation should
receive careful diagnosis
before recommendations are
made.
 KINDS OF INFORMATION NEEDED IN CASE
STUDIES
• Identifying data: name, sex, date of birth, age, place of birth, telephone no.

• Identification and statement of the problem

• Health and developmental history

• Family history

• Educational history

• Social History

• Economic history

• Psychological history
 SOCIAL SKILLS OF CASE
CHARACTERISTICS OF A WORK
SATISFACTORY CASE STUDY
• Social insight
• Continuity
• Empathy
• Completeness of data
• Communication
• Validity of data
• Cooperation
• Confidential recording
• Participation
• Scientific synthesis
• Organization

• Social counseling

• Guidance for creative

achievement
THE CYCLE OF CASE STUDY AND CASE
WORK
Case study and case work are complementary. They go together usually and
help each other.
• Recognition and determination of the status of the phenomenon.

• Collection of data relating to the factors or circumstances associated with the given
phenomenon.

• Diagnosis or identification of causal factors as a basis for remedial or developmental

treatment.

• Application of remedial or adjustment measures

• Subsequent follow-ups to determine the effectiveness of the corrective or developmental

measures applied.
 CONTENT ANALYSIS
It is a research technique for the objective, systematic and quantitative
description of the manifest content or communication.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTENT ANALYSIS

1. It is objective- there should be no bias involved in the selection and classification of content
to be analyzed.

2. It is systematic- it must follow the steps of the scientific method: determining the problem,
forming the hypothesis, doing library work, designing the study, developing the instruments,
collecting the data, analyzing the data, making conclusions and recommendations.

3. It is quantitative- interpretations and conclusions from the findings have to depend almost
entirely on the frequency counts of the items or aspects studied.
 STEPS IN CONTENT ANALYSIS
• Recognizing the problem

• Forming the hypotheses

• Doing library search

• Designing the study

• Developing the instrument

• Collecting the data

• Analyzing the data

• Making conclusions

• Making recommendations
 APPLICATION OF CONTENT ANALYSIS OF
DOCUMENTARY MATERIALS
• Analyzing to determine the educational, political, philosophical, psychological and other ideas of great
authors and thinkers based upon their books essays, poems, etc.

• Analyzing the contents of textbooks and other instructional materials as a basis for curriculum
construction and development and as a basis fro the selection of textbooks and other instructional
materials for the different curricular years of the educational ladder.

• Analyzing the achievement of students in the different subjects to determine the types of error they
committed as a basis for making remedial teaching programs and for curriculum development.

• Analyzing the different writings of students such as essays, compositions, poems, stories, letters, etc.
to determine their vocabulary and spelling skills, as bases for designing programs for further
development.
• Analyzing school records such as class records, report cards, enrolment lists, grading sheets,
cumulative records, etc. of different schools and school systems with the end in view of adopting the
common, practical, economical and useful school records.

• Analyzing the objectives and practices of different schools and school systems with the end in view of
adopting more valid and practical objectives and practices to attain the same ends.
EVALUATION
• Explain the meaning of descriptive research.

• Characterize descriptive research.

• What are the values/ advantages of descriptive research?

• Define content analysis. What are the characteristics?

• Explain how to conduct content analysis.