Table Of Content
The insights gained from a descriptive research can inform future research and inform policy decisions and programs. Focus group research involves bringing together a small group of people to discuss a particular topic or product. Furthermore, the group is usually moderated by a researcher and the discussion is recorded for later analysis. Data analysis involves using various methodologies, enabling the researcher to evaluate and provide results regarding validity and reliability.
Select a representative sample
The survey method can be conducted online or offline, making it the go-to option for descriptive research where the sample size is enormous. Researchers can conduct various investigations and collect multiple types of data (quantitative and qualitative) using surveys with diverse designs. Descriptive studies are usually carried out in the participants’ everyday environment, which allows researchers to avoid influencing responders by collecting data in a natural setting. Case reports and case-series refer to a solitary patient or to only a few cases, who may represent a chance occurrence. Hence, conclusions based on these run the risk of being non-representative, and hence unreliable. Descriptive research is used to describe characteristics of a population or phenomenon being studied.
Topics
It is employed in psychology, market research, and other social science studies to track and understand human behavior. Indeed, the investigators in the myopia study above visited the same children and reassessed them a year later. This separate follow-up study[8] showed that “new” myopia had developed in 3.4% of children (incidence rate), with a mean change of −1.09 ± 0.55 D. Among those with myopia at the time of the initial survey, 49.2% showed progression of myopia with a mean change of −0.27 ± 0.42 D. This method involves analyzing qualitative data (e.g., text, images, audio) to identify themes, patterns, or trends. Content analysis can be used to describe the characteristics of a sample or population, or to identify factors that influence attitudes or behaviors.
WHAT IS A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY?
The main purpose of descriptive research design is to describe and measure the characteristics of a population or phenomenon in a systematic and objective manner. It involves collecting data that describe the current status or condition of the population or phenomenon of interest, without manipulating or altering any variables. This involves collecting data over an extended period of time, often through repeated observations or surveys of the same group or population.
This means you can use the stats gathered to easily identify underlying patterns in your respondents’ behavior. For example you could use descriptive research to understand fashion trends in a given city when planning your clothing collection for the year. Using descriptive research you can conduct in depth analysis on the demographic makeup of your target area and use the data analysis to establish buying patterns. Qualitative observation doesn’t involve measurements or numbers but instead just monitoring characteristics. Since the respondents are in a comfortable environment, the characteristics observed are natural and effective.
Types of Descriptive Research Design
Scientists use knowledge about the nature of electrons, protons and neutrons to devise this categorical scheme. We now take for granted the periodic table, yet it took descriptive research to devise it. For example, over time the periodic table's description of the elements allowed scientists to explain chemical reaction and make sound prediction when elements were combined. The term descriptive research then refers to research questions, the design of the study, and data analysis conducted on that topic. We call it an observational research method because none of the research study variables are influenced in any capacity.
These units include individuals, families, organizations, objects, characteristics, and properties. You can further dissect descriptive research’s outcomes and use them for different types of investigation. The outcomes also serve as a foundation for subsequent investigations and can guide future studies. For example, you can use the data obtained in descriptive research to help determine future research designs. Besides making observations and then comparing and analyzing them, descriptive studies often develop knowledge concepts and provide solutions to critical issues.
Informs Future Research
As we’ve mentioned, descriptive research design is ideal for understanding the what, who or where of a situation or phenomenon. Because the elements needed for descriptive research design are not specific or highly targeted (and occur within the respondent’s natural environment) this type of study is relatively cheap to carry out. Because the data collection for descriptive research produces statistical outcomes, it can also be used as secondary data for another research study.
Cost Effective
Descriptive research only provides a snapshot of the current situation and cannot establish cause-and-effect relationships. The information gathered through descriptive research can serve as a baseline for future research and provide a foundation for further studies. Despite certain parallels, descriptive research concentrates on describing phenomena, while qualitative research aims to understand people better. For example, a business looking to sell to its target market should research the market’s behavior first.
Determining when to use descriptive research depends on the nature of the research question. Before diving into the reasons behind an occurrence, understanding the how, when, and where aspects is essential. Descriptive research design is a suitable option when the research objective is to discern characteristics, frequencies, trends, and categories without manipulating variables. It is therefore often employed in the initial stages of a study before progressing to more complex research designs.
Descriptive research typically involves the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data through methods such as surveys, observational studies, case studies, or focus groups. Descriptive research provides a comprehensive picture of the characteristics and behaviors of a particular population or phenomenon, allowing researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the topic. The primary advantage of descriptive research designs is that researchers can create a reliable and beneficial database for additional study. To conduct any inquiry, you need access to reliable information sources that can give you a firm understanding of a situation. A case study can be used to describe the characteristics of a specific subject (such as a person, group, event, or organisation). Instead of gathering a large volume of data to identify patterns across time or location, case studies gather detailed data to identify the characteristics of a narrowly defined subject.
Descriptive studies, irrespective of the subtype, are often very easy to conduct. For case reports, case series, and ecological studies, the data are already available. For cross-sectional studies, these can be easily collected (usually in one encounter). Thus, these study designs are often inexpensive, quick and do not need too much effort.
Cross-sectional study for derivation of a cut-off value for identification of an early versus delayed diagnosis of ... - BioMed Central
Cross-sectional study for derivation of a cut-off value for identification of an early versus delayed diagnosis of ....
Posted: Wed, 14 Dec 2022 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Descriptive research design is a powerful tool used by scientists and researchers to gather information about a particular group or phenomenon. This type of research provides a detailed and accurate picture of the characteristics and behaviors of a particular population or subject. By observing and collecting data on a given topic, descriptive research helps researchers gain a deeper understanding of a specific issue and provides valuable insights that can inform future studies. Descriptive research methods can include surveys, observational studies, and case studies, and the data collected can be qualitative or quantitative. The findings from descriptive research provide valuable insights and inform future research, but do not establish cause-and-effect relationships.
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. Case study research is a type of descriptive research that focuses on a single individual, group, or event.
No comments:
Post a Comment