Descriptive research design focuses on describing characteristics of individuals or groups, addressing the who, what, when, where, and how of variables. Diagnostic research design examines the frequency and associations between variables, often used in social research to explore correlations. Key elements of both designs include clear problem definition, data collection methods, preparation of instruments, sampling design, and data analysis techniques.

1. Understanding The
Descriptive/Diagnostic Research
Design
By
Dr. Shaloo Saini
Assistant Professor, MKCE
(CT Group of Institutions, Jalandhar,
Punjab)

2. Descriptive Research Design
• Descriptive Research Studies are those Research studies
which are concerned with describing the characteristics
of a particular individual or a group of
individuals(Kothari and Grag, 2019).
• The Descriptive Research Design is used when the
purpose of study is to learn who, what, when, where and
how of a variable.
• The researcher must be able to clearly define, what he
wants to measure and must find adequate methods for
measuring it along with clear cut definition of population
he wants to study therefore it must be well planned
(Kothari and Garg,2019).
• The Descriptive Research Design must be designed in an
unbiased, reliable and rigid manner.

3. Objectives of Descriptive Research
• To describe the characteristics of some relevant
group like adolescents, humanities students etc.
• To study the proportion of population having
particular traits like number of students
volunteered for social services.
• To make predictions related to a particular
phenomenon like what will be growth of literacy
in the suburbs of a metropolitan city.

4. 6 W’s of Descriptive Research Design
• Who is the part of the study (Subject) ?Who
• What Information is to be collected (Content) ?What
• When is the information to be collected (Time)?When
• Where should the respondent be contacted (Place)?Where
• Why is the information being obtained (Objectives)?Why
• Way of obtaining the information (Method) ?Way

5. Diagnostic Research Design
• Diagnostic Research Studies determine the frequency
with which something occurs or its association with
something else(Kothari and Garg, 2019).
• The Diagnostic Researches are conducted to find out the
associations between the variables.
• Most of the Social Researches are carried through
Descriptive /Diagnostic Research Designs.
• From the point of view of Research Design the
descriptive as well as the diagnostic studies share
common requirements therefore in many research books
these two types of research designs are grouped together.

6. Objectives of Diagnostic Research
Design
• To establish whether two or more variables are
associated with each other.
• To determine the degree to which the variables
are associated, for example a study may be
conducted to find out if there is any association
between study hours and academic
achievements.

7. Important Elements of
Descriptive/Diagnostic Research
Design
Clear Definition of The Problem
Methods of Data Collection
Preparation of Instruments
Sampling Design
Data Collection and Analysis Techniques

8. 1. Clear Definition of The Problem
• The concepts and theories associated with the
problem need to be clearly explained (Gupta and
Rangi,2017).
• The objectives should be specified with sufficient
precision to ensure that the data collected will be
relevant(Kothari and Grag,2019).

9. 2. Methods of Data Collection
• The method to be adopted for the collection of data
should be clearly explained in the Research Design.
• There are various techniques of collecting the
information from the respondents like observation,
interview, questionnaires, examination of records
etc.
• Each technique have its own merits and demerits
and must be selected according to the objectives of
the study, time, funds available and level of
precision desired.

10. 3. Preparation of Instruments
• The Research Design must explain about the
instruments to be used to collect information from
the respondents.
• The instruments to be used must be according to the
objectives of the study, suitable and understandable
for the respondents, valid, reliable, simple, unbiased
and specific.
• It is always desirable to pre test the data collection
instruments before they are presented for the actual
research study respondents(Kothari and Garg,2019).

11. 4.Sampling Design
• The Research Design must explain the Sampling
Design to be adopted for the research study. The
sampling design must be selected in such a way that
it gives full representation to the population, so that
the findings of the research can be generalised for
the population.
• The are various probability and non probability
sampling techniques that can be adopted for the
purpose of sample selection. The Research Design
should clearly indicate the Sampling Technique to
be employed in the research study.

12. 5. Data Collection and Analysis
Techniques
• The Research design should explain about the field
conditions in which the data will be collected and
recorded.
• Collected data should be examined for its
completeness, comprehensibility, consistency and
reliability.
• The Research design explains the processing and
analysis of data. This includes steps like coding,
tabulating and performing several statistical
computations. The processing and analysis
procedure should be planned in detail before the
actual work is started(Kothari and Garg,2019).

13. Summary
Descriptive Research Studies are those Research studies which are concerned
with describing the characteristics of a particular individual or a group of
individuals(Kothari and Grag, 2019). The Descriptive Research Design is
used when the purpose of study is to learn who, what, when, where and how
of a variable.
Diagnostic Research Studies determine the frequency with which something
occurs or its association with something else(Kothari and Garg, 2019).The
Diagnostic Researches are conducted to find out the associations between
the variables.
Most of the Social Researches are carried through Descriptive /Diagnostic
Research Designs.
The Important Elements of Descriptive/Diagnostic Research Design are
1. Clear Definition of the Problem
2. Methods of data Collection
3. Preparation of Instruments
4. Sampling Design
5. Data Collection and Analysis Techniques

14. References
Bajpai N. (2015). Research design formulations. In Business
research methods (pp. 49). Nodia: Pearson Education.
Cooper, D. R., Schindler, P. S., & Sharma, J. K. (2012).
Measurement scales. In Business Research
Methods (8th ed., pp. 341). New Delhi: Mc. Graw Hill
Education (India).
Gupta S.K. & Rangi P.(2017). Research Designs In Research
Methodology (4th ed., pp3.5).Punjab: Kalyani
Publishers(India).
Kerlinger F. N.(1986) Foundations of Behavioural Research.
(3rd ed.,pp.279). New York: Holt, Rine Heart& Winston.
Kothari C. R. & Garg G.(2019). Research Designs. In Research
Methodology Methods and Techniques( 4th ed., pp.29-38)
New Delhi: New Age International Publishers(India).

15. Thank You
This Power Point Presentation has been made while
referring to the research books written by eminent,
renowned and expert authors as mentioned in the
references section. The purpose of this Presentation
is to help the research students in developing an
insight about The Descriptive/Diagnostic
Research Design. I hope the students will find
this presentation useful for them.
All the Best
Dr. Shaloo Saini