Research in Daily Life 2
Week 5 If We Knew What We Were Doing It Wouldn't Be
Research
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
Module 5
NAME: ____________________________________________________
For the learner/s:
Welcome to the Research in Daily Life 2
Module on Research in Daily Life 2
Our mind is the most powerful part of our human body, with our mind working at
its best, we can achieve anything. Despite different circumstances we might
face, we should stand firm and continue with life. Our mind is associated with our
ability to learn, appreciate and create essential things. Hence, this signifies that
you as a learner is capable and empowered to succeed. Your academic success
lies in your own hands!
This module aims to provide the essential concepts, skills and competencies
needed which are useful in real life situations. The lessons and activities in this
module is designed with accordance to the skills and tasks suited for 21st Century
learners.
This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:
Objectives - These are what you will be able to know after
completing the lessons in the module
Pre-test - This will measure your prior knowledge and the
concepts to be mastered throughout the lesson.
Lesson- This section will discuss the topic for this module.
Activities - This is a set of activities you will perform.
Generalization- This section summarizes the concepts and
applications of the lessons.
Post-test - This will measure how much you have learned from the
entire module.
OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson the student should be able to:
a. explain the meaning, characteristics, types, considerations and
importance of descriptive research
b. provide examples of descriptive research, and;
c. write a proposal for descriptive research.
PRE–TEST
DIRECTION: Choose the letter of the best answer.
1. Descriptive Research _________ what exist and may be able to help uncover new
factual information and meanings. a. describe
b. compute
c. conclude
d. solve
2. The analysis and synthesis of the data provides the test of the __________.
a. Hypothesis
b. Data
c. Description
d. facts
3. In a descriptive research, there are no _________ manipulated.
a. Synthesis
b. Methods
c. Variables
d. Analysis
4. The ________ and synthesis of the data provides the test of the hypothesis.
a. Listing
b. Analysis
c. Gathering
d. Computation
5. Quantitative research is often time consuming and ________.
a. Inexpensive
b. Unnatural
c. Expensive
d. Effortless
LESSON
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
Descriptive research does not entirely fit neatly into the
definition of either quantitative or qualitative research
methodologies; rather it can utilize the different elements of both,
often within the same study/ research.
Descriptive research tends to describes what exist and may
be able to help uncover new facts and meanings within the scope
of the study. Its main purpose is to observe, describe and
document the different aspect of a specific phenomenon or
situation as it naturally occurs. There are occasion wherein it seeks
to describe the current status of an unidentified variable, provide
systematic information about a situation and object the subject without
intervention.
In a descriptive research usually the researcher does not start with a
hypothesis but rather come up with a hypothesis after collecting the data. The
analysis and synthesis of the data provides the test of hypothesis.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
The characteristics of descriptive research can be highlighted from its
definition, applications, data collection methods, and examples. Some
characteristics of descriptive research are:
1. QUANTITATIVENESS
Descriptive research uses a quantitative research method by collecting
quantifiable information to be used for statistical analysis of the population
sample. This is very common when dealing with research in the physical sciences
2. QUALITATIVENESS
It can also be carried out using the qualitative research method, to properly
describe the research problem. This is because descriptive
research is more explanatory than exploratory or
experimental.
3. UNCONTROLLED VARIABLES
In descriptive research, researchers cannot control the
variables like they do in experimental research.
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH METHODS
There are three distinct methods that can be used in conducting a descriptive
research.
1. OBSERVATIONAL METHOD
Qualitative observation doesn‟t involve
measurements or numbers but instead just
monitoring characteristics. In this case, the
researcher observes the respondents from a
distance. Since the respondents are in a
comfortable environment, the characteristics
observed are natural and effective. In a
descriptive research design, the researcher can
choose to be either a complete observer, an
observer as a participant, a participant as an
observer, or a full participant.
For example, in a supermarket, a researcher
can from afar monitor and track the customers’ selection and purchasing trends.
This offers a more in-depth insight into the purchasing experience of the customer.
2. CASE STUDY METHOD
Case studies involve in-depth research and study of individuals or groups.
Case studies lead to a hypothesis and widen a further scope of studying a
phenomenon. However, case studies should not be used to determine cause and
effect as they can‟t make accurate predictions because there could be a bias
on the researcher‟s part. The other reason why case studies are not a reliable way
of conducting descriptive research is that there could be an atypical respondent
in the survey. Describing those leads to weak generalizations and moving away
from external validity.
3. SURVEY METHOD
In survey research, respondents answer through
surveys or questionnaires or polls. They are a popular
market research tool to collect feedback from
respondents. A study to gather useful data should have
the right survey questions. It should be a balanced mix
of open-ended questions and close ended-questions.
The survey method
can be conducted
online or offline,
making it the go-to
option for descriptive research where the
sample size is enormous.
EXAMPLE OF DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH TOPICS
1. A description of how grade school
students spend their time during school breaks.
2. A description of kinds of physical
activities that occur in a pre-school in the
Philippines and how frequently each occurs
3. A description of the extent to which elementary teachers use manipulatives
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH SAMPLE RESEARCH
A Descriptive Study on Saving and Investment Behaviour of Investors
by
Rishabh Dev
Research Scholar
Pacific University, Udaipur
Abstract
In heavily-indebted developing countries like India, revival in private investment is
a necessary component of economic growth. Over the past decade, it has been
experienced growth regarding the increasing awareness of investors‟ behavior
through research. India being a geographically, culturally and economically
diverse country, many differences in savings across the regions and overtime
periods can be explained by economic and demographic factors, but there still
remains a role to be played for behavioural research. The present study is an
analysis of behaviour of investors of Uttarakhand state with respect to their
demographic diversities. This study is also an endeavor in the area of
Behavioural Finance to understand the intricacies of aggression in investment
by different clusters of investors. The study finds although in Uttarakhand the
women are relatively more involved in earning for the family, the male are more
aggressive than female in their investment. Women choose safer investment and
men choose aggressive investment. It is seen that business and retired categories
respondents are more aggressive investor than service categories respondents.
Cluster analysis reveals that majority of the respondents in the sample re of
aggressive investors.
Source: (PDF) A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY ON SAVING AND INVESTMENT BEHAVIOUR OF
INVESTORS: EVIDENCE FROM UTTARAKHAND (researchgate.net)
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
ADVANTAGES
1. In descriptive research the subject is being observed in a completely natural
and unchanged natural environment.
2. It does not adversely influence the normal behaviour of the subject
3. It is often use as a pre-cursor to quantitative research designs, the general
overview giving some valuable pointer as to what variables are worth testing
quantitatively.
4. Quantitative research is often time consuming and expensive; Descriptive
research help the researcher to get an idea of what hypothesis are worth
testing.
DISADVANTAGES
1. There are no variables manipulated
2. There is no way to statistically analyze the result
3. Regarded as unreliable and unscientific
4. Results of observational studies are not repeatable.
5. There can be no replication or reviewing of result.
ACTIVITY
Direction: Search an example of Descriptive Research. Write the abstract part
and then explain why it is considered descriptive research
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GENERALIZATION
Keep in mind the following main ideas found in this lesson
1. Descriptive research describes what exist and may be able to help uncover
new facts and meaning.
2. In Descriptive quantitative research the researchers does not usually start
with hypothesis but is likely to come up with hypothesis after collecting data.
3. Systematic collection of information requires careful selection of the units
studied and measurement of each variable.
4. Descriptive quantitative research is often use as a pre-cursor to quantitative
research designs, the general overview giving some valuable pointer as to what
variables are worth testing quantitatively.
POST–TEST
DIRECTION: Write TRUE if the statement is true and FALSE if not. Write your answer
in the space provided before each number.
_________1. In Descriptive quantitative research the researchers usually start with
hypothesis.
_________2. Descriptive research can be replicated as many as possible.
_________3. Variables are manipulated in descriptive research.
_________4. Descriptive research provides systematic information about a
phenomenon.
_________5. Observational method is the most commonly use method under
descriptive research.
