June 15 - Descriptive Research

Today, we will be examining descriptive research. Although different educational research experts use different designations for types of descriptive research, the different types can be loosely placed into a few specialized categories. These include:

• Survey Research (where participants are asked to complete a survey of some sort)


• Observational Research (where participants are observed and their behaviors are noted)


• Interview Research (where interviews are actually conducted)

In consideration of these three types, some people refer to interviews as "personal surveying" and place interviews under a "survey" heading. Others use the phrase "survey research" rather than descriptive research. Still others tend to shy away from using observation research. Yet others use the phrase "self-report studies" versus "observational studies." In any case, we can speak of these three different types realizing that various researchers consider them to overlap in some ways.

In any case, there are commonalities. For example, in descriptive research, whether you are doing survey, observational, or interview research; all data are reported quantitatively and are analyzed through typically fairly simple statistics. In addition, scoring techniques and various types of item categories are used to help organize the data into meaningful information. Some of the most common ways this is done is through:

• Likert Items (levels of agreement or disagreement with the statement made)


• Rating Items (items where you are typically asked to rate the usefulness or excellence of something)


• Semantic Differential scales (items that are split into bipolar ends [such as hot-cold, heavy-light, etc.] and where you make a mark toward one of these ends concerning whatever you are rating)


• Behavior checklists (used in observational research to see how often or how much a particular behavior occurs)


• Demographic items (to determine percentages of groups participating [e.g., census])

You have all participated at one time or another in a descriptive study. Perhaps you completed a restaurant survey. You participated in the US Census. You filled out a satisfaction survey. You used a shopping card from your favorite grocer. You did a peer observation, or you evaluated a professor. All of these are used for descriptive research purposes.

Please proceed to the Blackboard information to examine a scanned handout on some of the important aspects to consider when designing a descriptive research study. There you will find a brief history of survey research. You will also find information about different types of surveys and some of the problems that can exist with observational and survey research.