DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH

1. STATISTICS AND EDUCATION RESEARCH DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH

3. What is descriptive research? is the most widely-used research design as indicated by the theses, dissertations and research reports of institutions. Its common means of obtaining information include the use of the questionnaire, personal interviews with the aid of study guide or interview schedule, and observation, either participatory or not.

4. What is descriptive research? includes studies that purport to present facts concerning the nature and status of anything. This means that descriptive research gives meaning to the quality and standing of facts that are going on. For instance, the information about a group of person, a number of objects, a set of conditions, a class of events, a system of thoughts or any other kind of phenomenon or experience which one may wish to study.

5. What is descriptive research? fact-finding with adequate interpretation. The descriptive method is something more and beyond just data-gathering; latter is not reflective thinking nor research. The true meaning of data collected should be reported from the point of view of the objectives and the basic assumption of the project under way. Facts obtained may be accurate expressions of central tendency, or deviation, or correlation; but the report is not research unless discussion of those data is not carried up to the level of adequate interpretation. Data must be subjected to the thinking process in terms of ordered reasoning.

6. Nature of Descriptive Research Descriptive research is designed for the investigator to gather information about present existing conditions. Descriptive research involves collection of data in order to test the hypothesis or to answer questions concerning the current status of the subject of the study. Descriptive study determines and reports the way things are. It has no control over what is, and it can only measure what already exist. Descriptive research has been criticized for its inability to control variables, for being a post-hoc study and for more frequently yielding only descriptive rather than predictive, findings.

7. Aim of Descriptive Research The principal aims in employing descriptive research are to describe the nature of a situation as it exists at the time of the study and to explore the causes of particular phenomena. (Travers, 1978) Descriptive Research seeks to tell “what exists” or “what is” about a certain educational phenomenon. Accurate observations and assessments arise from data that ascertain the nature and incidence of prevailing conditions, practices or description of object, process, and person who are all objects of the study.

8. Aim of Descriptive Research contribute in the formation of principles and generalization in behavioural sciences contribute in the establishment of standard norms of conduct, behaviour, or performance. reveal problems or abnormal conditions ; make possible prediction of future on the basis of findings on prevailing conditions, corrections, and on the basis of reactions of people toward certain issues; give better and deeper understanding of phenomenon on the basis of an in-depth study of the phenomenon. provide basis for decision-making.

9. Design of Descriptive Research Descriptive research makes some type of comparison contrasts and correlation and sometimes, in carefully planned and orchestrated descriptive researches, cause-effect relationships may be established to some extent.

10. Method Six steps in conducting descriptive research Identify problem Review literature Select participants and instruments Collect valid and reliable data Analyze data Report conclusions

11. Common Errors Lack of participant response Low response rates are common Difficulties interpreting the findings without the data representing non-respondents’ views Unclear/ambiguous items Researcher needs to develop recording forms that collect the data objectively and reliably Obj. 2.2 & 2.3

13. Self-report

14. Individuals respond to statements or questions about themselves

15. Observation

16. Data is collected by the researcher watching participantsObj. 3.1 & 3.2

21. Ethics of Descriptive Research Be sure when you describe any particular group of individuals in your population, you should include not only the characteristics which are common to the group but also their unique as well. Failure to include the unique characteristics of the participant may make the result inconsistent and unreliable. Bear in mind that seldom in the descriptive method per se used as end in itself. It means that the primary objective of descriptive methods is to make use of the results to facilitate predictions or control of some behaviours. As a researcher is for you to plan how your findings can be used as means to further some ends. Use statistical procedures to assure you of a level of confidence that your results are trustworthy. Data should not be manipulated. Instrument use should be free from cultural bias.

22. Importanceof Descriptive Research For scientific basis of judgement. This means that descriptive research provides information which could be used as basis for important decisions that are to be made. For a closer look into happenings, behaviour, practice, methods and procedures. Descriptive researchprovides essential facts and understanding about the nature of anything. For the formation of construction of test analysis of these standardization of tools instruments used in research.

23. Make us work……… Exercises: Descriptive Research

24. Guide Questions in Understanding Descriptive Research: What general field or area is being explored? What is the general purpose of the study? What are the specific objectives of the study? What places are involved in the study? How did the researchers get their subjects? Who are the subjects? What are the characteristics of the subjects? What are the process used in gathering data? How is the measurement or evaluation done? How are the data analyzed? How can one apply the research results?

25. Thank you for listening! Feel free to email me for any comments or suggestions @ mcdo_1304@yahoo.com