CHAPTER 4

DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
 What is Descriptive Research?
• Describes what exists and may be able to help uncover new
facts and meanings. The main purpose of this resarch is to
observe, describe and document the aspect of a situation as it
naturally occurs. It seeks to describe the current status of an
unidentified variable, provide systematic information about a
phenomenon and observe the subjects without intervention. The
researcher does not usually begin with a hypothesis, but is
likely to come up with a hypothesis after collecting data. The
analysis and synthesis of the data provides the test of the
hypothesis. Systematic collection of infromation requires
careful selection of the units studided and measurement of
each variable.
 Advantages and Disadvantages of
Descriptive Research:
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 In Descriptive Research, the subject is being  There are no variables manipulated.
observed in a completely natural and
unchanged natural environment.
 It does not adversely influence the normal  There is no way to statistically analyze the
behavior of the subject. results.
 It is often used as pre-cursor to quantittive  Regarded as “unreliable” and
research designs, the general overview giving “unscientific.”
some valuable pointers as to what variables
are worth testing quantitatively.

 Quantitative research is often time-consuming  Results of observational studies are not

and expensive; Descriptive research helps the repeatable.
researcher to get an idea of what
hypothesis/questions are worth testing.

 There can be no replication or reviewing

of results.
Examples of Descriptive Research topics:

1. A description of how first grade students spend

there time during summer
2. A description of kinds of physical activities that
occur in pre-schools and how frequently each
occurs.
3. A description of the extent to which elementary
teachers use math manipulative.
 Examples of Descriptive Research questions:

1. Questions: How many calories do Filipinos consume per

day?
Variable: daily calorie intake
Group: Filipinos
2. Questions: How often do universitystudents from Manila
use Facebook each week?
Variable: Weekly Facebook usage
Group: University students from Manila
3. Questions: What are the most important factors that
influence the acreer choices of Filipino university students?
Variable: Factors influencing career choices
Group: Filipino university students.
The main ideas found in the chapter are
the following:

1. Descriptive Research describes what exists and

may be able to help uncover new facts and
meanings.
2. In Descriptive Quantitative Research, the
researcher does not usually begin with a
hypothesis, but is likely to come up with a
hypothesis after collecting data.
3. Systematic collection of information requires
careful selection of the units studied and
measurement of each variable.