Both qualitative and descriptive research aim to describe phenomena as they occur naturally without manipulation or experimentation. Qualitative research collects in-depth data in a natural environment to understand behaviors, while descriptive research establishes hypotheses and collects specific data to describe problems or answer questions. Both approaches aim to describe phenomena with low manipulation and control.

1. Qualitative and descriptive research
Qualitative Descriptive
S  Both qualitative and descriptive research  Both qualitative and descriptive research
I are concerned with providing descriptions are concerned with providing descriptions
M T of phenomena that occur naturally, of phenomena that occur naturally, without
I I without the intervention of an experiment the intervention of an experiment or an
L E or an artificially contrived treatment. artificially contrived treatment.
A S
R
 Qualitative research is primary research.  Descriptive research is primary research.
I  Occur in a natural environment.  Occur in a natural environment.
 Consider nature environment a difficult  This approach concerns with describing
D context in which to conduct an SLA behaviour in a natural context, with no
I investigation because too many variables manipulation or little intrusion from the
must be controlled. researcher.
F
 Qualitative research is heuristic and no  Descriptive research can be heuristic or
F deductive. deductive.
E  Qualitative research narrows the focus of  Descriptive research as a type or category
the research progresses. or research refers to investigation which
R utilizes already existing data or non-
 Descriptive research as a type or
E category or research refers to experimental research with a preconceived
hypothesis.
N investigation which utilizes already
existing data or non-experimental  Descriptive research establishes research
C research with a preconceived hypothesis. questions or hypothesis. Descriptive
E research begins with a general question or
a specific issue.
S

2. Qualitative and descriptive research
Qualitative Descriptive
F  It is called hypothesis-generating  It is used to describe problems in S.L.A, it
E research because most of the information gives us pictures of factores involve in the
A comes from the context. S.L.A development.
T  We collect data as much as we can, this  We collect specific data using techniques,
U kind of data is called “raw data” from other researchs or from other
R observations
 We want to understand a behaviour
E  We give answer to a problem or question
based on our observations.
S based on information collected in our
observations.
 Descriptive research is analytic constituent.
P  Qualitative research is synthetic or Deductive
holistic. Heuristic
A  Begins with preconceived hypothesis and a
 Little or no manipulation of the research narrower scope of investigation.
R environment, and uses data collection
 High control.
procedures with low explicitness.
A
 Low control
M
E
T
E
R
S

3. Qualitative and descriptive research
Qualitative Descriptive
A
P
 this approach may consider nature a  this approach may be concerned with
P
R
difficult context in which to conduct an describing second language acquisition
O
investigation because too many variables behaviour in natural context, with no
A
must be controlled. manipulation or little intrusion from the
C researcher.
H
P  Observation: the observation is done in a  Case studies: when the investigator is
A field using different tools like interested in describing some aspects of
 Tape recording: This is a useful tool to do the SL performance. Consider studying
R a successful observation. individual performance will be more
A relevant.
 Manual transcription: the observation
must be transcript in order to have some  Group studies: A researcher may be
M interested in describing the various types of
observation results and find patterns in
E the information. motivation found in SL learner group.
T
E
R
S