THE DESCRIPTIVE METHOD

Prepared by:

Maria Angela L. DiopolMP-SP

•Collection of data in order to test hypotheses or to answer questions concerning the current status of the subject of the study

•DEFINITION

•To describe the nature of a situation as it exists at the time of the study and to explore the causes of particular phenomena.

•AIM

1. Case Studies2. Surveys3. Developmental Studies4. Follow-up Studies5. Documentary Analysis6. Trend Analysis7. Correlational Studies

•TYPES

• Interview•Questionnaire

• Open-ended questions• Closed questions

•Observation•Use of Devices

•WAYS OF OBTAINING DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION

•Narrative Records

Full narrative descriptions of a participant’s behavior.

•Checklists

A tally sheet on which the researcher records attributes of the participants and whether particular behaviors were observed.

•DATA COLLECTION

•An empirical research method for which the researcher examines the history and behavior of a single person.

•CASE STUDIES

•Case of Anna O. by Sigmund Freud•HM – a person who underwent brain surgery in the 1950s•Howard Gardner’s book, “Leading Minds (1995)”

EXAMPLES:•CASE STUDIES

•An objective method of obtaining information from members of a population.

•SURVEYS

• Has your college experience been satisfying thus far?

____________________________________________________________________

• Has your college experience been satisfying thus far?

Yes ___No___

• With regard to your college experience, which of the following factors do you find satisfying?• Academics• Relationships• Residence halls• Residence life• Social life• Food service• Other ____________

• Open-ended • Closed-ended • Partially open-ended

•Examples of types of survey questions

• Likert rating scale• I am very satisfied with my college experience.1__Strongly Disagree 2__Disagree3__Neutral 4__Agree 5__Strongly Agree

1. Census

- Covers the entire population of interest.

2. Sample

- Deals only with a portion of the population.

•2 SCOPES OF SURVEYS:

1. A Census of Tangibles-covers a small population

where the variables are concrete.

3. A Sample Survey of Tangibles

-obtain information from large groups where the variables are concrete

2. A Census of Intangibles-deals with constructs based from your indirect measures.

4. A Sample Survey of Intangibles

-measurement of psychological/sociological constructs, as well as comparing a large population where the variables are not directly observable.

•4 CATEGORIES OF SURVEYS

• “A Comparative Study of the Employment Status of Nursing Graduates in Selected Regions of the Philippines: Its Implications to Nursing Education” by Perla B. Sanchez (1981)

• “Public Elementary School Teacher-Stayers and Leavers in the NCR: A Comparison” by Corazon D. Santiago (1981)

EXAMPLE DISSERTATIONS:•A Sample Survey of Tangibles

• “Anxiety Levels, Self-Concept, and Emotional States of Pregnant Single Women in Institution Shelters” by Daby Friedland (1981)

• “Rorshach Personality Profiles of Some Adolescent Children of Working and Non-Working Mothers in the Manila Area Perceived to Show Positive Parental Behavior” by Elizabeth E. Ventura (1981)

EXAMPLE DISSERTATIONS:

•A Sample Survey of Intangibles

•May investigate progression along a number of dimensions such as intellectual, physical, emotional, or social development

•DEVELOPMENTAL STUDIES

1. Longitudinal Method

- Studies the same sample participants over an extended period of time.

2. Cross-Sectional Method

- Studies participants of various characteristics at the same point in time.

•DEVELOPMENTAL STUDIES2 COMPLEMENTARY TECHNIQUES:

• Child and Youth Research Center (CYRC) (1963) conducted a longitudinal study among selected 170 Filipino infants in their first year of life in Metro Manila.

• A comparison of math achievement in public middle schools in the United States in 1990, 1995, and 2000

EXAMPLES:

•Longitudinal Method

• “The Sex Knowledge of Filipino Children in a Philippine Barrio” by CYRC (1977)

• A survey of reading achievement at different grade levels in a school system in 2000.

EXAMPLES:

•Cross-Sectional Method

• - investigating the subsequent development of the participants after a specified treatment or condition.

•FOLLOW-UP STUDIES

• A 20-year follow-up study of a sample of 50 pairs of twins with neurotic-psychosomatic disorders. By Muhs A, Schepank H, Manz R. (1990)

• A 12-month follow-up study of self-management• training for people with chronic disease:• Are changes maintained over time? By J. H. Barlow*, C. C. Wright, A. P. Turner and G. V. Bancroft

• School of Health and Social Sciences, Coventry University, UK (2005)

EXAMPLES:

•FOLLOW-UP STUDIES

• - involves gathering data by examining records and documents.

•DOCUMENTARY ANALYSIS

• “An Overall Analysis of Money Market Investments in the Philippines from the Time of Inception up to 1976” by Tuazon-Repuyan (1978)

EXAMPLES:•DOCUMENTARY ANALYSIS

• - involves studies that seek future status. • - aim to project the demands or needs of the people in the future.

•TREND ANALYSIS

• Current Trends Paper: Diversity in Education Management and Student Achievement Gap by: S.Duncan, University of Phoenix (2006)

• K-12 Professinal Development Plan• (2010)

EXAMPLES:•TREND ANALYSIS

•An empirical research method for which the researcher takes two or more measurements of characteristics for each participant and then examines the correlation among the variables.

•CORRELATIONAL STUDIES

• Positive Correlations: Both variables increase or decrease at the same time. A correlation coefficient close to +1.00 indicates a strong positive correlation.

•

Negative Correlations: Indicates that as the amount of one variable increases, the other decreases (and vice versa). A correlation coefficient close to -1.00 indicates a strong negative correlation.

• No Correlation: Indicates no relationship between the two variables. A correlation coefficient of 0 indicates no correlation.

3 POSSIBLE RESULTS:•CORRELATIONAL STUDIES

• Decker, W. H.  (1987).  Managerial humor and subordinate satisfaction

• A Correlational Study of the Relationship Between Sense of Humor and Positive Psychological Capacities by Larry W. Hughes University of Nebraska at Kearney (2008)

• Correlation Between Grade Point Average and Absences by Ignacio Suarez

• Exploring the Self-Esteem and Depression of Selected Filipino Single Mothers by Mia Betina D. Abad (2011)

EXAMPLES:•CORRELATIONAL STUDIES

METHODOLOGY

A cross-sectional survey was undertaken for the purpose of studying the statistical relationships between sense of humor, and its dimensions, and PsyCap, and its dimensions. Surveys were administered to 92 participants from a wide cross-section of employers. The results were tabulated and descriptive statistics generated for the purpose of exploring linkages between sense of humor, humor orientation and positive psychological capacities.

A Correlational Study of the Relationship Between Sense of Humor and Positive Psychological Capacities by Larry W. Hughes University of Nebraska at Kearney (2008)

• Calderon, Jose F., Methods of Research and Thesis Writing, 2012 (reprint)

• Hale, J. (2011). The 3 Basic Types of Descriptive Research Methods. Psych Central. Retrieved on June 30, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2011/09/27/the-3-basic-types-of-descriptive-research-methods/

• Jackson,Sherri L.,Research Methods:A Modular Approach,2nd Ed.,2010

• Pittenger, David J., Behavioral Research Design and Analysis, 2003

• Sevilla, Consuelo G., et. al, Research Methods, 1993

•REFERENCES

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