Descriptive Research

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Descriptive Research

• A Study of Status

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Types of Descriptive Research

• Developmental studies
• - Longitudinal
• - Cross-sectional
• Case study
• Correlational
• Normative
• Observational
• Action
• Ex post facto
• Survey

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Developmental Research

• Looks at changes in behavior or knowledge across
  years
• Longitudinal designs
• Cross-sectional designs

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The Case Study

• Strives for an in-depth understanding of a
  single situation or phenomenon
• A case can be a person, program, institution,
  project or a concept

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Correlational

• To determine if a relationship exists between two
  variables measured on the same individual
• e.g. Age and alcohol consumption Years in the
  profession and safety record

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The Normative Survey

• Establishes norms for abilities, performances,
  beliefs and attitudes on samples of people of
  different ages, genders and other classifications
• AAHPERD Youth Fitness Test
• National Children and Youth Fitness Study

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Observational

• Data consists of observations of people or
  programs
• Can take place over weeks or months
• Time consuming
• Requires considerable training

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Survey Research

• Most common type of descriptive research
• Tries to ascertain opinions and practices through
  interviews and questionnaires
• Make comparisons, determine trends, reveals
  strengths/weaknesses, uses information for
  decision-making

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Action Research

• Conducted in the natural setting where it will be
  applied
• Lacks some control
• Results are always true for the setting
• Tries to solve a problem specific to the setting

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Ex Post Facto Research

• After the fact
• Uses data that have already been collected
• Seeks to explain the present by looking at data
  from the past
• Also called causal-comparative
• e.g. summer camp injury study

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Survey Research

• The most common type of descriptive research
• Involves determining the views or practices of a
  group through interviews or questionnaires
• Administered by the researcher or through the mail

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Survey Methods

• Phone Interview
• Personal Interviews
• Administered Questionnaire
• Distributed Questionnaire

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Telephone Interviews

• Less expensive
• Can work from a central location
• People more accessible by telephone
• Can reach a large geographical area
• People may respond more candidly to sensitive
  questions by phone

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The Personal Interview

• More valid because responses are more reliable
• Greater percentage of returns
• Interviewer tends to improve with experience
• Do not inject your own biases
• To get good information, you must ask good
  questions

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Steps in Questionnaire Research

• 1. Determine the objectives
• 2. Delimit the sample
• 3. Construct the questionnaire
• 4. Conduct a pilot study
• 5. Write the cover letter, if necessary
• 6. Send or administer the questionnaire
• 7. Follow-up(s), if necessary
• 8. Analyze the results and prepare the report

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Questionnaire Design

• Answer these questions before you start
• What do you want to know?
• What do you want to achieve with the results?
• What kind of information do you need?
• Knowledge
• Beliefs, attitudes, opinions
• Behavior
• Attributes

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Types of questions

• Open-ended questions
• Why do you smoke?
• Completion (Fill-in the-blank)
• How old were you when you started smoking? ______
• Closed questions
• How many cigarettes a day do you smoke?
• a. 1-4
• b. 5-10
• c. 11-20
• d. more than 20

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Writing questions

• Think through the use of each question!!
• Avoid the use of jargon or abbreviations
• Be specific
• Use clear wording
• Avoid making assumptions
• Avoid bias
• Avoid double-barreled questions

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What is wrong?

• Do you exercise regularly?
• Did you have a mammogram and a Pap smear last
  year?
• I dont exercise because Im lazy.
• Agree Disagree
• Men over 40 should have a PSA test every year.
  Have you had your PSA test this year?

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Formatting the questionnaire

• Begin with an introduction which includes
• Questionnaires purpose
• Identification of the source
• Explanation of how information will be used
• Assurance of confidentiality
• First questions should be easy, not controversial
• Arrange the questions so they flow naturally

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Formatting the questionnaire

• Use the same type of questions and responses
  throughout a series of questions on a particular
  topic
• Place demographic questions at the end of the
  questionnaire
• Give directions about how to answer
• Circle the number of your choice
• Check all that apply
• Use transitional statements

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Example Questionnaire

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• Division of Adolescent School Health
• 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System
• http//www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/yrbs/2003/question
  naire.htm