Quarter 2

MELC: Chooses appropriate quantitative research design

CG CODE: CS_RS12-IIa-c-1

Descriptive Research Design

After going through this learning material, you are expected to:
a. identify the descriptive research design and its types;
b. classify the types of descriptive research design applied in different situations; and
c. examine a sample quantitative research depicting the types of descriptive research design.

PRETEST
Directions: Read and analyze the following statements. Choose the letter of
the best answer and write it in your notebook.
1. What type of descriptive research design is used to compare two or more groups of samples on one or
more distinct variables?
A. Correlational C. Descriptive evaluative
B. Descriptive comparative D. Descriptive normative
2. What type of descriptive research design is used when the researcher wishes to find out the extent to
which different variables are related to one another?
A. Comparative C. Normative
B. Correlational D. Survey
3. What type of descriptive research design must be used to assess the effectiveness of Enhanced
Community Quarantine implemented by the national government in reducing the number of Covid-19
transmissions?
A. Comparative C. Evaluation
B. Correlational D. Ex-Post Facto
4. Gaby conducted a study to know if there is a significant relationship that exists between students’ anxiety
in math and their class performance in math class. What type of descriptive research design should Gaby
apply to his study?
A. Assessment C. Correlational
B. Comparative D. Normative
5. The researcher aims to determine the effects of online classes set by the Department of Education for
School Year 2020-2021. He compares the students’ performance of two groups (one group with a strong
internet connection at home and one group with no internet connection at home). What type of descriptive
research design has been used by the researcher?
A. Assessment C. Correlational
B. Comparative D. Normative
 Research design refers to the entire process of planning and carrying out a research study
(Choudhurg 2017). It is like the blueprint of your research study because it serves as the backbone of your
research. Always bear in mind that a good research design produces good results for the research study. In
quantitative research, you could either have a descriptive research design (also known as non-experimental
research design) or experimental research design. This module focuses on the descriptive type of research
design.

Descriptive Research Design

Descriptive research design is a research method that describes the characteristics or behavior of the
subjects or phenomenon that is being studied. It includes an overall impression of the variables without
influencing or manipulating other variables in any way (Faltado et al. 2017, 61). Additionally, this design does
not attempt to answer “why” and is not used to discover inferences, make predictions, or establish causal
relationships (Bhat 2020). This is mainly because it is important to have a proper understanding of what a
research problem is about before investigating why it exists in the first place. Researchers collect data without
making changes or introducing treatments. This design is very helpful if the aim of the researcher is to identify
characteristics, frequencies, trends, correlations, and categories (FormPlus Blog 2020).

Characteristics of Descriptive Research Design

Bhat (2020) stated some of the distinctive characteristics of descriptive research design:
• Quantitative research: It attempts to collect data that could quantify for statistical analysis of population
sample.
• Uncontrolled variable: No manipulation of variables is done in this design unlike in experimental research.
• Basis for further research: The result of the study can be further analyzed and can be used in other research
method.

Types of Descriptive Research Design

According to Faltado et al. (2017) and Mariano (n.d.), below are the types of descriptive research
design used in quantitative research.
1. Survey. This design is used to gather information from a group of samples chosen from population. This
is useful when the researchers aim to see the general picture of the population in terms of their social and
economic status, opinions, and knowledge about the behavior towards certain phenomenon. Remember
when conducting a survey study, it is important that the people questioned are randomly sampled because it
gives more accurate findings across greater range of respondents.
For example, the researcher conducted a survey to determine the socioeconomic characteristics of
the Pasigueños.
2. Descriptive Normative Study. This type attempts to establish norms based on a large number of survey
data. It is used to describe trends in a large population of individuals. Also, it describes the norm level of
characteristics for a given behavior. The results of the study should be compared with the norm.
For example, a group of researchers wanted to determine the level of skills of the incoming Senior
High students, so they gave them a skills test (per group depending on their tracks). The result of the test
was compared with the standard range of score to describe the level of their skills.
3. Correlational Research Study. This research design is used when the researcher aims to find out the
extent to which different variables are related to one another. In this design, you will have two or more
quantitative variables in the same group of subjects. Correlational does not mean causation. It does not mean
that one variable causes change to other variables.
For example, the researcher attempts to know the correlation between mental ability and grade in
math of the students. Also, the researcher tries to find out the relationship between gender and math
performance of the students.
4. Descriptive Evaluative Study. This study focuses on judging the “goodness of a criterion measure”. It
can be done in a short or long period of time.
Longitudinal Studies. It is a study that establishes changes in criterion measure over a long period of time
using same subject.
For example, the researchers want to study the changes in IQ of 9-11 years old kids over a three-year
period, the researchers must test the same group of subjects over the three-year period. Cross-sectional
Studies. It is a study designed to evaluate changes over time by comparing at the same point of time, but
different subject representing different stages. For example, the researchers tested children’s IQ
simultaneously (respondents whose 9 years of age, 10 years of age, and 11 years of age) to see changes in
criterion.
5. Assessment/Evaluation Study. It is undertaken to assess the worth, success, effectiveness, or efficiency
of a certain policy, or practice when applied to a group of subjects. Assessment studies imply measurement
of certain key indicators without attaching any judgment to them however, evaluation implies putting judgment
and valuing to the measurements obtained. Assessment and evaluation always go together for one cannot
go without a basis for such. The purpose of this research design is to see if a given program is effective and
successful according to the goals set for it.
For example, a group of curriculum specialists study the effectiveness of the K-12 program six years
from today based on factors such as cost, efficiency, and impact on quality.
6. Descriptive Comparative Study. This is a study designed to establish a formal procedure to compare
and conclude the differences between variables. It includes comparing two or more groups of samples on
one or more variables, often at a single point of time. Specifically, comparative study is used to compare two
distinct groups on the basis of selected attributes such as knowledge level, perceptions, and attitudes,
physical or psychological symptoms.
For example, a comparative study was conducted by the researchers to compare the health problems
among rural and urban people in Region 1, Philippines.
7. Ex-Post Facto or Causal-Comparative Study. It derives conclusion from observations and
manifestations that already occurred in the past and now compared to some dependent variables. It
discusses why and how a phenomenon occurs.
For example, a researcher is interested on how weight influences thestress-coping level of adults.
Here the subjects would be separated into different groups (underweight, normal, overweight) and their
stresscoping levels measured. This is an ex-post facto design because a pre-existing characteristic(weight)
was used to form the groups.

ACTIVITIES
Directions: Accomplish the following activities in your answer sheet.
A. Read and analyze the following statements. Write T if the statement is correct and F if the statement is
incorrect.
____ 1. A descriptive research design focuses more on the “what” of the research subject rather than the
“why” of the research subject.
____ 2. Assessment is a study that focuses on judging the “goodness of a criterion measure”.
____ 3. Correlational research attempts to find out how one variable causes change to another variable.
_____4. Descriptive comparative desires to determine a significant difference between two or more groups.
_____5. Correlational research determines relationship between variables.
_____6. Ex-post facto is the same with comparative study.
_____7. Descriptive research involves correlational, observational, and experimental.
_____8. A cross-sectional study takes a long period of time to be done.
_____9. A normative study involves a wide class of data when establishing norms or standards on it.
____10. A descriptive evaluative study determines the degree of the relationship between two variables.

B. Classify the type of descriptive research design best used in each of the following situations. Choose the
letter of the best answer from the choices inside the box.

A. Descriptive Normative E. Comparative Study

B. Correlational Study F. Evaluation Study

C. Longitudinal Study G. Ex-Post Facto

D. Cross-sectional Study H. Survey

____ 1. A group of students wishes to correlate the performance of the STEM students between Science
subject and Mathematics subject.
____ 2. The researcher wants to know the efficiency of using digital classroom for the learning of ICT
students.
____ 3. The researchers want to know if the percentage of women diagnosed with breast cancer increases
with age. He gathers three groups of women of different ages and conducts a survey at the same point
intime.
____ 4. Mrs. Soles conducts a research study on the English Proficiency Skills of the Grade 10 students
and compares the result to the standards of DepEd.
____ 5. The teacher wants to know if there is a difference between the height and weight of the of children
living with their parents and children living with their relatives.
____ 6. Researchers want to observe participants from childhood to adulthood in order to understand how
growing up in different environments influences their traits, habits, and personalities.
____ 7. A group of college students wants to establish a general opinion of the students and parents in
accessing school news and information through school portal.
____ 8. The researcher aims to determine how gender affects the leadership performance of barangay
councils in Pasig. He selects a group of participants of different gender and compares their leadership
performance.
____ 9. The researcher wants to determine the impact of distance learning onthe performance of the
students enrolled in public schools in Pasig.
____ 10. Researchers aim to know how people with different income levels react to the enhanced
community quarantine imposed by the national government.
POSTTEST
Directions: Read and analyze the following statements. Choose the letter of the best answer and write it in
your answer sheet.
1. What type of research design is used if the researcher collects information on different subjects at the
same point in time to study the changes in different stages?
A. Assessment/Evaluation C. Descriptive normative
B. Cross-Sectional Study D. Longitudinal Study
2. This design is used to assess the worth, success, effectiveness, or efficiency of policies, or practices
when applied to a group of subjects.
A. Evaluation C. Normative
B. Ex-Post Facto D. Survey
3. Which of the following research topic is suitable for a correlational research study?
A. The efficiency of RHS website in disseminating information
B. The effectiveness of “Malunggay” extract as an alternative ink
C. The difference between gender and academic excellence of students
D. The relationship between academic productivity and academic rank in Practical Research 2
4. The researchers want to compare the effectiveness of three groups of managers in some fast food
restaurants in Cebu and determine if there is a difference between their management strategy? What type
of descriptive research design is best to apply in this scenario?
A. Assessment C. Correlational
B. Comparative D. Normative
5. The researchers aim to study how age affects the performance of the employees in a certain
supermarket. The researchers create an age range group and measure the performance of the employees
on their work. What type of descriptive research design has been used by the researchers?
A. Comparative C. Evaluation
B. Correlational D. Ex-Post Facto