DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH DESIGN

1. DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
DESIGN
DR. MAHESWARI JAIKUMAR.
maheswari jaikumar2103@gmail.com

2. INTRODUCTION
• Descriptive research designs
aims to observe, describe and
document aspects of a situation
as it naturally occurs.

3. • Descriptive studies may
sometimes serve as a starting
point for hypothesis generation
or theory development.

4. FEATURES
• Descriptive designs are used to
observe, document and describe
a phenomenon occurring in its
natural setting without any
manipulation or control.

5. • Descriptive studies are designed
to gain more information about
characteristics within a select or
a particular field of study.
• Descriptive studies provide a
picture of a situation as it occurs
in natural setting.

6. • The design does not involve the
manipulation of variables.
Variables are studies as they
exist in the natural world.

7. • Descriptive research designs are
used to develop theories,
identify problems with current
practices, make judgments or
determine alternative solutions
for the existing practices.

8. • In case of descriptive studies bias
is prevented through operational
definitions of variables, by
choosing a large sample size, by
using random sampling
techniques, By means of using a
valid & reliable tools of
measurement, & formal data
collection procedures.

9. • Descriptive designs include
identification of a phenomenon
of interest, identification of
variables within the
phenomenon, developing
operational definitions of the
variables & describing the
variables.

10. • Thus through descriptive designs
description of variables leads to
an interpretation of the
theoretical meaning of the
findings and development of
hypothesis.

11. TYPES
• 1. UNIVARIENT DESCRIPTIVE
DESIGN.
• 2. EXPLORATORY DESCRIPTIVE
DESIGN.
• 3. COMPARITIVE DESCRIPTIVE
DESIGN.

12. UNIVARIENT
DESCRIPTIVE DESIGN
• Are undertaken to describe the
frequency of a phenomenon.

13. • The design does not focus on the
study of a single variable.
• Two or more variables are
studied.

14. • The basic purpose of this design
is not only to describe each of
the variables, but also to
establish the relationship
between two variables.

15. • This design is primarily used to
identify and describe the
perception, awareness,
behaviour, attitude, knowledge,
practices of people.

16. EXAMPLE
• A study to assess the
experiences of patients suffering
from Leprosy.

17. • In this study the researcher may
describe the frequency of
different symptoms experienced
by the patients and types of
treatment they received.

18. EXPLORATORY STUDY
• Exploratory design is used to
identify, explore and describe
the existing phenomenon and its
related factors.

19. • It is an in-depth exploration and
study of the related factors to
improve further understanding
about a less understood
phenomenon.

20. EXAMPLE
• An exploratory study to assess
the multi-factorial dimensions of
falls and home safety measures
for elderly people living in
selected communities in the city
of Chennai.

21. COMPARTIVE DESIGN
• Comparative research designs
are involved in comparing and
contrasting two or more samples
of study subjects on one or more
variables at a single point of
time.

22. • This research design is used to
compare two distinct groups on
the basis of selected attributes
such as knowledge & attitude,
etc.,

23. EXAMPLE
• A comparative study on health
practices among rural and urban
older people in Moolakulam,
Puducherry.

24. THANK YOU