DESIGNING, CONDUCTING, ANALYZING & INTERPRETING DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH CHAPTERS 7 & 11 Kristina Feldner

Types of Quantitative Descriptive Research Descriptive Causal Comparative Correlational

DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH AKA SURVEY RESEARCH Describe features of or provide a picture of a condition or phenomenon using quantitative data Purpose Administer written survey/questionnaire/interview Document responses Analyze data Describe participant attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors Process Quantitative Outcomes Tally frequencies, percentages, mean scores Outcomes Typically rely on responses of participants to specific questions Misc.

CAUSAL COMPARATIVE RESEARCH & EX POST FACTO Identify potential cause-and-effect relationships between targeted groups of individuals Attempts to answer question, “Is there a causal relationship?” Purpose Researchers test the relationship of independent and dependent variables Process Categorical data are nominal, ordinal, or ratio Outcomes Independent variable is not a treatment or condition Variables not controlled ahead of time Potentially misleading Misc.

CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH Describe or analyze relationships between variables, conditions, or events Provides an indication of whether or to what degree two or more variables are related or how one thing may be predicted from another Attempts to answer the question, “What is the magnitude or degree of relationship?” Purpose Data collected through surveys, questionnaires, or interviews May also use existing databases Process Quantitative index of the strength of relationships = Correlation Coefficient Outcomes Variables are not manipulated Study can provide information about where to base future research Allows researcher to explore relationships among a greater number of variable at one time Analyze data with caution Misc.

DESIGNING & CONDUCTING DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH

SURVEY METHODS Include the use of interviews or completion of questionnaires and yield data from participants Generally used to measure attitudes, decisions, needs, behavior, lifestyle, affiliations, and/or demographics of the sample Data can be used for descriptive processes & also for analyzing the relationships among the constructs

SURVEY DESIGN 1) Determine informational needs 2) Select sample 3) Design instrument / create questions 4) Determine how to collect data 5) Plan for how to analyze data

CREATING QUESTIONS Questions are designed to yield information for the researcher about the reality being studied. Try to have focus group discussions, even if they are small. FocusBrevityClarity Vocabulary Grammar Good Questions

RESPONSE FORMATS Structured Response Nominal Ordinal Interval Ratio Unstructured Response Open-ended Categorical Response All- inclusive/mutually exclusive categories Narrow focus No more than 6-8 categories Scales Likert Verbal Frequency Linear Numeric

ReliabilityValidity You get similar responses from individuals if you ask questions on multiple occasions. Your questions ask what you are trying to understand. *Submit the questions for critical review* *Field test the instrument *

SELECTING YOUR SAMPLE Random Requires substantial resources Accurately describes population Convenience “Readily available” Limitations of generalizing results to the larger population Stratified Subgroups created to guarantee representation Clustered Choose certain physical or geographical areas Identify number of units to be chosen from each area

COLLECTING DATA Everything depends on your study - your questions, content, facilities, participants, etc. Considerations: Interviews Researcher Notes Nonresponses (access, motivation, costs) Extant Databases