This document discusses different types of descriptive research methods. Descriptive research aims to describe "what exists" with respect to current conditions or variables. Methods include surveys, correlation studies examining relationships between variables, and developmental studies analyzing changes over time. Descriptive research can be quantitative by collecting numerical data or qualitative by describing categories. It involves gathering and organizing data to depict and describe observations. Examples of descriptive studies ask questions about attitudes, activities, reactions, and changes over time.

1. 1
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
By
Ana Maria DO Regala

2. DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
• Descriptive research is used to obtain
information concerning the current status of the
phenomena to describe "what exists" with
respect to variables or conditions in a situation.
• The methods involved range from the survey
which describes the status quo, the correlation
study which investigates the relationship
between variables, to developmental studies
which seek to determine changes over time.

3. DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
• Descriptive research can be either quantitative or
qualitative.
• It can involve collections of quantitative information that
can be tabulated along a continuum in numerical form,
such as scores on a test or the number of times a person
chooses to use a-certain feature of a multimedia
program,
• or it can describe categories of information such as
gender or patterns of interaction when using technology
in a group situation.
• Descriptive research involves gathering data that
describe events and then organizes, tabulates, depicts,
and describes the data collection

4. DESCRIPTIVE STUDIES
• Descriptive studies, primarily concerned with
finding out "what is," might be applied to
investigate the following questions:
– Do teachers hold favorable attitudes toward using
computers in schools?
– What kinds of activities that involve technology occur
in sixth-grade classrooms and how frequently do they
occur?
– What have been the reactions of school
administrators to technological innovations in teaching
the social sciences?
– How have high school computing courses changed
over the last 10 years?

5. Developmental StuDieS
• Trend Studies - Used to make predictions from
social trends, economic conditions,
technological advances, etc. to future status
• The purpose of developmental studies is to
assess changes over an extended period of
time.
– For example, developmental research would be an
ideal choice to assess the differences in academic
and social development in low-income versus high-
income neighborhoods.
– It is most common when working with children as
subjects for obvious reasons and can be undertaken
using several methods

6. trenD analySiS
• The term "trend analysis" refers to the
concept of collecting information and
attempting to spot a pattern, or trend, in
the information
• Although trend analysis is often used to
predict future events, it could be used to
estimate uncertain events in the past,
such as how many ancient kings probably
ruled between two dates, based on data
such as the average years which other
known kings reigned.

7. InterrelatIonshIp
studIes
• Correlation Studies - Determine the extent of
the relationship between two or more variables
• "Correlational research involves collecting data
in order to determine whether, and to what
degree, a relationship exists between two or
more variables."
• Usually examine a complex, major idea by
seeing how lesser variables relate to it
– If variable doesn't relate, can drop from further
analysis
– If variable relates, can do a more expensive causal-
correlational or experimental study

8. hIstorIcal research
• Historical research - mean gathering data from
situations that have already occurred and performing
statistical analysis on this data just as we would in a
traditional experiment.
• Since historical research relies on data from the past,
there is no way to manipulate it.
• Studying the grades of older students, for example, and
younger students may provide some insight into the
differences between these two groups, but manipulating
the work experience is impossible.
• Therefore, historical research can often lead to present
day experiments that attempt to further explore what has
occurred in the past.