Descriptive and Historical Research

1. Science Research
Larry J. Sultiz
SciEd4
7
Dr. Andrea G. Azuelo
Professo
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3. Descriptive Research
Historical Research

4. Nature Of Descriptive
Research
Attempts to describe, explain and
interpret conditions of the present.
i.e. “what is’.
Goal:

5. Nature Of Descriptive
Research
The purpose of a descriptive research is
to examine a phenomenon that is occurring
at a specific place(s) and time.
Purpose
:

6. Nature Of Descriptive
Research
Is concerned with conditions,
practices, structures, differences or
relationships that exist, opinions held,
processes that are going on or trends that
are evident.

7. Types of Descriptive Research
Methods
1. Correlational Research
2. Causal-Comparative Research
3. Document Analysis
4. Ethnography
5. Case Study
6. Analytical Method

8. Correlational
research
Comprises of collecting data to determine
whether, and to what extent, a relationship
exists between two or more quantifiable
variables.

9. Correlational
research
Correlational research is aimed at
determining the nature, degree and
direction of relationships between
variables or using these relationships to
make predictions.

10. Correlational
research
For example, there is a strong
relationship between students’ scores on
academic achievement in Mathematics and
their scores on academic achievement in
Science.

11. Steps of a Correlational Research
1. Selection of a Problem
2. Selection of the
Sample and the Tools
3. Design and Procedure
4. Interpretation of the
Findings

12. Types of Correlational research
These attempt to gain insight into
variables that are related to complex variables
such as academic performance, self-concept,
stress, achievement motivation or creativity.
(a)Relationship
Studies:

13. Types of Correlational research
These are conducted to facilitate
decisions about individuals or to aid in
various types of selection.
(b) Prediction
Studies:

14. 1. How is job satisfaction of a teacher related to the
extent of autonomy available in job?
Some questions that could be examined through
correlational research are as follows:
2. Is there a relationship between Socio-Economic
Status of parents and their involvement with the
school?
3. How well do Common Entrance Test Scores for
admission to B.Ed. reflect / predict teacher
effectiveness?

15. Causal-comparative research
It describes conditions that already exist
ex post facto research “after the fact”)

16. Causal-comparative research
It is a form of investigation in which the
researcher has no direct control over independent
variable as its expression has already occurred or
because they are essentially non-manipulable.

17. Causal-comparative research
Attempts to identify reasons or causes of pre-
existing differences in groups of individuals.
Goal:

18. Causal-comparative research
If a researcher observes that two or more
groups are different on a variable, he tries to identify
the main factor that has led to this difference.
Example
:

19. DOCUMENTARY ANALYSIS
•Closely related to historical research since in such
surveys we study the existing documents.
•But it is different from historical research in
which our emphasis is on the study of the past;
and in the descriptive research we emphasise on
the study of the present.

20. DOCUMENTARY ANALYSIS
•Descriptive research in the field of education
may focus on describing the existing school
practices, attendance rate of the students,
health records, and so on.

21. DOCUMENTARY ANALYSIS
•In some pedagogic research, analysis of relevant
documents will inform the investigation. If used
to triangulate, or give another perspective on a
research question, results of document analysis
may complement or refute other data.

22. How can documents be analysed?
Minutes of course meetings could be examined to
see whether or how much this issue has been
discussed;
Student hand-outs could be analysed to see
whether they are expressed in ways which might
encourage deep learning.

23. Ethnography
•Ethnography is a form of research focusing on
the sociology of meaning through close field
observation of socio-cultural phenomena.
•Typically, the ethnographer focuses on a
community (not necessarily geographic,
considering also work, leisure, classroom or
school groups and other communities)

24. Techniques Used in Conducting Ethnography
A. Listening to conversations and interviewing. The
researcher needs to make notes or audio-record
these.
B. Observing behaviour and its traces, making
notes and mapping patterns of behaviour,
sketching of relationship between people, taking
photographs, video-recordings of daily life and
activities and using digital technology and web
cameras.

25. The components of an ethnographic research
report should include the following :
1. Purpose / Goals / Questions.
2. Research Philosophy.
3. Conceptual/Theoretical Framework
4. Research Design / Model.
5. Setting/Circumstances. 6. Sampling Procedures.
7. Background and Experience of
Researcher.
8. Role/s of Researcher.
9. Data Collection Method.
10. Data Analysis/Interpretation.
11. Applications/Recommendations.

26. Case study research
•Involves describing and interpreting events,
conditions, circumstances or situations that are
occurring in the present.
•Case study seeks to engage with and report the
complexities of social activity in order to
represent the meanings that individual social
actors bring to their social settings.

27. Types of Case Study
Designs
•Exploratory
• Explanatory
•Descriptive
•Evaluative

28. It involves the identification and interpretation of
data already existing in documents, pictures and
artefacts. It is a form of research in which events,
ideas, concepts or artefacts are examined through
analysis of documents, records, recordings or other
media
Analytical Method:

29. Historical research comprises of systematic
collection and analysis of documents, records and
artefacts with the objective of providing a description
and interpretation of past events or persons.
Analytical Method:

30. Historical research could use both quantitative
and qualitative data.
Analytical Method: