1. PART 1
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, HOW AND HOW MANY

2. THE DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
describes what
exists and may help
to uncover new facts
and meaning.
This approach is
used to describe
variables rather
than to test a
predicted
relationship
between variables.
Polit D.F., Hungler B.P. (1999)
Nursing Research: Principles and
Methods (6th Ed.) Philadelphia,
Lippincott
Set to seek out
accurate
information and
adequate
descriptions of
activities, objects,
processes and
persons.
Allison, B., Race P. (2004) The
Students’ Guide to
Dissertation Preparation and
Theses. (2nd Ed.)
RoutledgeFalmer. London
devoted to the
gathering of
information
about prevailing
conditions or
situations for the
purpose of
description and
interpretation.
Dr. Y.P. Aggarwal (2008). Statistics
of Education. (2nd Ed.) Sterling .
Delhi.

3. NATURE OF DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
• It is the best methods for collecting information to
demonstrate relationships and describe the world as it
exists and are often done before an experiment to know
what specific things to manipulate and include in an
experiment
Bickman, L., & Rog, D.J. (1998). Handbook of Applied Social Research Methods. Newbury Park, CA.
• because it can answer “what is” and “what was” the nature
of a situation as it exists at the time of the study and to
explore the causes of particular phenomena through the
collection of census data.Travers R. (1978) Introduction to Educational Research. (4th ed.). McMillan. London
• useful when it is impossible to test and measure the large
population which is the subject of quantitative types of
experimentation.

4. NATURE OF DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
• descriptive research may be more analytic. It often
focuses on a particular variable or factor.
• low on the "control or manipulation of research context"
scale. It is non-intrusive and deals with naturally
occurring phenomena.
http://linguistics.byu.edu/faculty/henrichsenl/ResearchMethods/RM_2_05.html
• The answer in a descriptive research can no way be
definitive.
https://explorable.com/descriptive-research-design

5. AIMS OF A DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
• provides a knowledge base which can be a springboard
for other types of quantitative research methods because
it maps the terrain of a specific phenomenon.
• contribute in the formation of principles and
generalization in behavioral sciences contribute in the
establishment of standard norms of conduct, behavior, or
performance.
reveal problems or abnormal conditions ; and if correctly
interpreted, the data gathered can provide useful insight
which may lead to hypothesis – formation.
Travers R. (1978) Introduction to Educational Research. (4th ed.). McMillan. London

6. TYPES OF DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH AND
EXAMPLES• Observational Method - animal and human behavior is
closely observed which can be in a natural environment or
in a laboratory
Is Food Intake Associated with Pre-Adolescent Obesity?
An Observational Study in Metro Manila, Philippines.*
• Case Study Method - involves an in-depth study of an
individual or group of individuals and is often leads to
testable hypotheses which allows for a study of a rare
phenomena.
Water Pollution Control - A Guide to the Use of Water Quality
Management Principles: A Case Study of the Pasig River**
Jackson, S.L. (2009). Research Methods and Statistics: A Critical Thinking Approach 3rd edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
*http://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ajcn.2009.107.119
**http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/resourcesquality/wpccasestudy3.pdf

7. TYPES OF DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH AND
EXAMPLES• Causal – Comparative – describes the extent of relationship
between two or more variables.
Language Learning Strategies of Students at Different Levels of
Speaking Proficiency - examines the use of language learning
strategies by high school students when speaking in class, and
factors affecting such strategy use.
http://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/edq/article/viewFile/2131/2049
• Correlational Method - Explores relationships that exist
among variables; sometimes predictions are made on the
basis of the relationships.
Relationship Between Dietary Pattern and Body Mass Index
Among Primary School Children
http://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ajcn.2009.107.119

8. TYPES OF DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH AND
EXAMPLES• Developmental Studies - the systematic study of designing,
developing, and evaluating instructional programs,
processes
Terman Study of the Gifted – began in 1921 and is still running
today Wikipedia.com
• Survey Method - participants answer questions
administered through interviews or questionnaires. After
participants answer the questions, researchers describe the
responses given.
A Survey on the Filipino’s Acceptance of the K to 12 curriculum,
SWS June 2011 – March 2012.
Official Gazette . http://www.gov.ph/

9. ADVANTAGES OF DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
• gives researchers the opportunity to use both quantitative
and qualitative data in order to find data and characteristics
about the population or phenomenon that is being studied,
• The data collection for descriptive research presents a
number of advantages as it can provide a very multifaceted
approach. Data can include case studies, observation or
surveys and give several angles on the information.
http://science.blurtit.com/316422/what-are-some-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-descriptive-research

10. DISADVANTAGES OF DESCRIPTIVE
RESEARCH• Confidentiality - Confidentiality is the primary weakness of
descriptive research. Often subjects are not truthful as they feel
the need to tell the researcher what they think the researcher
wants to hear.
• Objectivity and error - Descriptive research also presents the
possibility for error and subjectivity. For example, when a
researcher designs a questionnaire, questions are
predetermined and prescriptive. Furthermore, the study may
contain errors, as the researcher may record what she wants to
hear and ignore data that does not conform to the research
project's hypothesis.
http://science.blurtit.com/316422/what-are-some-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-descriptive-research

11. CONDUCTING A DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
Step One: Define a Problem to Research
Step Two: Write a Research Question and Sub-questions
Step Three: Design and Develop a Survey/Questionnaire
Step Four: Create a Cover Letter
Step Five: Select a Sample
Step Six: Pilot the Survey
Step Seven: Administer the Survey
Step Eight: Analyze Data
https://www.aea267.k12.ia.us/system/assets/uploads/files/1470/descriptiveresearch.pdf

12. PART 2
CORRELATIONAL
RESEARCH
WHAT, WHY AND WHAT IF

13. NATURE OF CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
• Sometimes called “associational research”
• It is a more complicated from of descriptive
research
• Collects data and investigates to what degree is the
relationship between two or more quantifiable
variables without any attempt of manipulation.
• The relationship between variables are can be
describe using the correlation coefficient (the
most common of which is the Pearson Product
Moment of Correlation Coefficient).*
http://www.unm.edu/~marley/methppt/fall07/ppt/day10.pdf
*http://stattrek.com/statistics/correlation.aspx

14. AIMS OF CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
• Used to either explore “the extents to which two or more
variables co-vary, that is, where changes in one variable
are reflected in changes in the other”
• when purpose of the study is to predict certain outcomes
in one variable from another variable that serves as the
predictor.
Creswell, J. (2008). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research.
New Jersey: Pearson: Merrill Prentice Hall.

15. TYPES OF CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
• Used to either explore “the extents to which two or
more variables co-vary, that is, where changes in
one variable are reflected in changes in the other”
• when purpose of the study is to predict certain
outcomes in one variable from another variable
that serves as the predictor.
Creswell, J. (2008). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research.
New Jersey: Pearson: Merrill Prentice Hall.

16. TYPES OF VARIABLES (PREDICTION DESIGN)
• PREDICTOR VARIABLE – used to make a forecast or
prediction
• CRITERION VARIABLE : the anticipated outcome that is
being predicted
• Predicting Satisfaction in Physical Education Classes: A
Study Based on Self-Determination Theory*
• Predicting Success for Virtual School Students: Putting
Research-based Models into Practice**
Creswell, J. (2008). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research.
New Jersey: Pearson: Merrill Prentice Hall.
*http://benthamscience.com/
**http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/winter114/roblyer114.html

17. TYPES OF VARIABLES (PREDICTION DESIGN)
• PREDICTOR VARIABLE – used to make a forecast or
prediction
• CRITERION VARIABLE : the anticipated outcome that is
being predicted
• Predicting Satisfaction in Physical Education Classes: A
Study Based on Self-Determination Theory*
• Predicting Success for Virtual School Students: Putting
Research-based Models into Practice**
Creswell, J. (2008). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research.
New Jersey: Pearson: Merrill Prentice Hall.
*http://benthamscience.com/
**http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/winter114/roblyer114.html

18. STEPS IN CORRELATIONAL STUDIES
• Step One: Selection of the problem
• Step Two: Selection of the sample and the tools
• Step Three: Design and procedure
• Step Four: Interpretation of the Findings
Creswell, J. (2008). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research.
New Jersey: Pearson: Merrill Prentice Hall.

19. OTHER SOURCES:
• http://psych.csufresno.edu/psy144/Content/Design/Nonexperimental/observation.html
• http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.mu.ac.in/myweb_test/Rese
arch%2520Methadology-Paper-3/Chapter-5.pdf
• http://ori.hhs.gov/education/products/sdsu/res_des1.htm
• https://www.aea267.k12.ia.us/system/assets/uploads/files/1470/descriptiveresearch.pdf