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TECHNIQUES UNDER THE DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH

by: Alona P. Villamon

Techniques Under the Descriptive Method of Research


There are three techniques under the descriptive method of research: 1. the survey 2. the case study 3. content analysis

Techniques Under the Descriptive Method of Research


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Survey, otherwise known as normative survey, is a fact-finding study with adequate and accurate interpretation. It is used to collect demographic data about peoples behavior, practices, intentions, beliefs, attitudes, opinions, judgments, interests, perceptions, and the like and then such data are analyzed, organized, and interpreted. Case study is a comprehensive, complete, detailed, and in-depth study and analysis of an individual, institution, group, or community.

Differences Between Survey and Case study


Survey
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The group surveyed is usually large. The number of aspects or variables in the life of the group surveyed is limited. Cause-effect relationships are not given emphasis. Aim of a study may only be to determine status. Representativeness is important and is given emphasis. Curiosity, interest, or just to determine norm or status may initiate a survey. Only conditions or practices present during the survey are considered.

Differences Between Survey and Case study


Case Study
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Case study may involve and usually involves one person, family, small group, or small community. Usually all aspects or variables in the life cycle of the case under study are included. Finding the causes of certain phenomena is always a part of a case study. Representativeness is not important. The result of a single case study do not provide certainty that the case is truly representative. Abnormalities or undesirable traits or conditions usually initiate a case study.

Advantages of the Survey Approach or Technique

1. it reveals what is typical, average or normal 2. results may be used for prediction 3. it makes possible the formulation of generalizations 4. reveals problems 5. easy to get respondents 6. instruments for gathering data are easy to determine, construct, validate and administer

Disadvantages of the Survey Approach or Technique

Lack of manipulation over independent variables. One cannot progressively investigate one aspect after another of the independent variable to get closer to the real world. Statistical devices are not always able to separate the effects of several independent variables when there is multivariable causation, especially when two independent variable are themselves highly associated.

Types of Survey Technique or Approach


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Total population survey. The entire population is involved in the survey. Sample survey. Only a sample or portion of the population is involved in the survey. Social survey. The investigator researches on the attitudes and behaviors of different groups of people. School survey. This is used to gather data for and about schools and to assess educational achievement and educational itself. Public opinion survey. This is used to gauge the reactions of people towards certain issues or persons.

Types of survey technique or approach


6. Poll survey. This is a survey in which the respondents are asked if they are voting for a certain candidate in an election. This survey is used to predict the chance of winning of a certain candidate in an election. 7. Market survey. This is aimed at finding out what kinds of people purchase which products, and how packaging, advertising, and displaying effect buying, prices, and so on. 8. Short term survey. In this survey, data are collected over a period of weeks, months, or even years but the period should be less than five years.

Types of survey technique or approach


11.Long term survey. Any survey conducted for more than five years is a long-term survey. 12. Longitudinal survey. This is almost the same as the long term survey . An example for this is the practice of economist to use time series analysis in which they compare data collected at present with data that were collected sometime in the past. 13. Cross sectional survey. In this type of survey, several groups in various stages of involvement are studied simultaneously. 14. Job analysis survey. This provides information on the general duties and responsibilities of workers.

Types of survey technique or approach


15. Community survey. This survey provides information on the various aspects of the community: health, employment, housing, education, economic resources, delinquency, family, population, other social problems. 16. Correlation study. This is a study that shows the relationship between two or more variables, that is, how a variable varies with another.

Case Study and Case Work


Case study involves a comprehensive and extensive examination of a particular individual, group or situation over a period of time. Case study may be defined then, as an extensive and intensive investigation of a unit represented, the aim is to identify causal factors to some abnormalities and to find and recommend a solution, a treatment, or developmental procedures.

Case work refers especially to the developmental, adjustment, remedial, or corrective procedures that appropriately follow diagnosis of the causes of maladjustment or of favorable development.

Case Study
Case method has been employed to describe a plan of organizing and presenting instructional materials in law, medicine, social work, and even in education, psychology, and sociology, where as a rule, the case materials used are the product of case study investigation. Case history is a biography obtained by interview and other means, sometimes collected over the years to enable us to understand the problems of an individual and to suggest ways of solving them. Clinical method is defined as a process by which we collect all available evidence -social, psychological, biological, and medical, that promises to help us understand an individual child.

Who should be studied?

Generally, children with some forms of abnormalities are the subject of case studies. These are children with exceptional abilities, very high IQ or children with problems or deficiencies.

Kinds of information needed in case studies


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Identifying data Identification and statement of the problem Health and development history Educational history Social history Economic history Psychological history

Data-gathering instruments
The interview 2. Observation 3. The questionnaire 4. Psychological test 5. Checklist, score cards and rating scales
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Characteristics of a Satisfactory Case Study


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Continuity Completeness of data Validity of data Confidential recording Scientific synthesis

CONTENT ANALYSIS
Content analysis as a research technique deals with documentary materials that are already existing and available. It has been defined as follows: Content analysis is a research technique for the objective, systematic and quantitative description of the manifest content of communication.

Characteristics of content analysis


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It is objective It is systematic It is quantitative

Steps in content analysis


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Recognizing the problem Forming the hypotheses Doing library search Designing the study Developing the instrument

Steps in content analysis


6. 7. 8. 9. collecting the data analyzing the data making conclusions making recommendations

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