Descriptive Research Questions

Submitted By cnguyen126
Words: 568
Pages: 3
Open Document
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND DESIGNS

Descriptive research is used to answer descriptive research questions:
What is happening? How is something happening? Why is something happening?

Examples:
• What is the average age at which children learn to walk?
• What is the association between birth order and social skills?
• How does self esteem differ among adolescents who differ in the timing of their puberty?
• Why does school climate influence student achievement?

Descriptive research designs include the following:

1. Simple descriptive
• data are collected to describe
• researcher administers a survey to a random sample of autistic children in order to describe the characteristics of the population of autistic children

Ex1: What percent of children are autistic?
Ex2: Given the spectrum of disorders within autism, what is the range of functioning?

2. Comparative descriptive
• describes two or more groups for comparison
• researcher administers a depression inventory to popular, rejected, and neglected students

Ex1: What are the depression levels of popular vs. rejected, vs. neglected students?
Ex2: What is the percentage of male vs. female students who are popular?
Ex3: What is the percentage of males vs. females who are depressed?

Hint: It may help to think about different levels/categories of your topic and/or different subject variables.

3. Correlational
• describe the statistical association between two or more variables
• researcher measures the student-teacher ratio in each classroom in a school district and measures the average student achievement on the state assessment in each of these same classrooms. Next the researcher uses statistical techniques to measure whether the student-teacher ratio and student achievement in the school district are connected numerically; for example, when the student-teacher ratio changes in value, so does student achievement.

Note: the researcher did not manipulate the student-teacher ratio, they simply measured/captured a pre-existing value.

Ex1: What is the relationship between severity of autism and others’ helping behaviors (the more sever the autism the more or less others help you)?

Ex2: What is the relationship between GPA and degree of popularity?

EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND DESIGNS

Experimental research is used to answer causal research questions:
Does something cause an effect? For example, does a low student-teacher ratio cause higher student achievement?

The easiest
Show More

Related Documents: Descriptive Research Questions

Intro to Management and Arts and Humanitites Paper

Kathleen Glaspie Unit 2- Assignment EVOLUTION OF MANAGEMENT 1910’s- The theory that was brought into that time period was the General Administrative theory and this theory occurred during the same period of time as the Scientific Management Era. The inventors that used these theories were: Henry Gantt, Frederick, and Hugo Munsterberg. Henry Fayol was the man who pioneered the theory. 1920’s- The theory that was brought into this time period is the Human Behavior. The various behavior…

Words 557 - Pages 3

intro to psychological testing paper wk 1

Introduction to Psychological Testing Paper May 4, 2015 PSY/475 Stephen Brown Psychological testing is used in a variety of areas to obtain the understanding and knowledge of humans. This paper will discuss the four major categories of tests, the use of the tests as well as who uses the tests and why. This paper will also define the term test and evaluate the reliability and validity of tests. A test is defined as a procedure that was established to evaluate the quality of performance…

Words 720 - Pages 3

Assignemnt 1 Comments Essay

Assignment 1 correction and comments First in order to gain an objective perspective on my paper, it is important for me to write down the comment that the TA given me: “This paper has a good visual presentation. The content could be strengthened with a clear thesis and strong support throughout the body.” I feel like I posted a lot of problems in my intro, I don’t think is due my inability to write an essay, but rather I was confused by the instruction that was given. When I first read over…

Words 836 - Pages 4

Well Put Together Paper Topics

Fantastic. Well put together paper, great questions and insights. just watch the source. a straight up book can be an iffy source..even if a phd writes it. best if the source is highly cited (can find out through google scholar)... so if you use a book in future papers..make sure to check that .. number of citations. it should be in the hundreds (meaning hundreds of scholars have cited him) otherwise, some person wrote a book and it doesn't make it necessarily scholarly. so just watch that. otherwise…

Words 745 - Pages 3

Notes On Sociology

Minorities 3.00 Undergrad Graded D 3.000 DANC 101 Introduction to Dance 3.00 Undergrad Graded C 6.000 POSC 100 American Government 3.00 Undergrad Graded W SPCH 100 Intro To Human Comm 3.00 Undergrad Graded F UNIV 100 Intro University Studies 1.00 Credit / No Credit CR Spring 1995 AFRO 107 Intro Afro-Amer Studies 3.00 Undergrad Graded C 6.000 ART 101 Introduction to Art 3.00 Undergrad Graded C 6.000 KNES 110A Beginning Swimming 1.00 Undergrad Graded C 2…

Words 398 - Pages 2

Essay about Developing Country

What is the difference between a developed nation and a developing nation? (Use this information to introduce your topic to be discussed in your paper. This actually is the topic you are discussing in your paper, which is why it will make a great intro. Anything you say after the introduction, that is, the body of the essay, will support the intro.) A developing nation is a nation that does not have the industrial and political capacity of a developed nation. A developed nation on the other…

Words 357 - Pages 2

Term Time Research Paper

 SET OUT SIGNPOSTS INDICATING HOW YOU PROPOSE TO DEVELOP YOUR ARGUMENT  IF YOU MENTION A POIT OR TOPIC IN THE INTRO, YOU MUST MENTION THIS LATER ON AS THE INTRODUCTION IS LIKE A GAMEPLAN OF WHAT YOU’LL DISCUSS  IF THERE ARE INTERESTING/RELEVANT TOPICS YOU CAN’T COVER, MAKE SURE TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU’VE CONSIDERED THEM BY SAYING THAT THEY’RE BEYOND THE SCOPE OFD THIS ESSAY.  INTRO SHOULD BE SEVERAL PARAGRAPHS AND INCLUDE REFERENCES TO PRIMARY PUBLICATION SOURCES [NOTE THAT WHEN CITING IN TEXT…

Words 497 - Pages 2

Essay on ThomasBlair Unit4 Exercise1

Chapter 11 1. What is the basic format for proposal? Intro, problem analysis, plan for solving the problem, benefits of the plan, and conclusion. 2. Where are proposals used? To explore problems and offer plans for solving problems. 3. What are the steps for inventing your proposal’s content? Inquiring, state proposal, narrow topic purpose, and find angle. 4. What are the three primary sources of information when writing proposals? Online, Print, and Empirical 5. What steps are involved with planning…

Words 1042 - Pages 5

Revolution: History and Clear Thesis Statement Essay

many specific details as possible (names, dates, places). 4) You must have an introduction with a clear thesis statement, at least three body paragraphs to support your thesis, and a conclusion. 5) Grade Breakdown: Introduction and Outline 10% Paper 20% Sources: 1) McKay et.al, Understanding Western Society Historical examples can only come from topics covered in the last section of the course. You must pick one from each of the following periods: 1) Late Middle Ages/ Renaissance 2) Scientific…

Words 744 - Pages 3

Essay on On The Law s Reflection of Morality

that our laws reflect the public's perception of what is right and just; it is morally wrong to steal, we all recognize, so thieves are arrested and penalized. In general then, the law is indeed a reflection of the public's sense of morality. (Good intro, but use only one semi colon per sentence, please) Laws, of course, change over time and from place to place. So does that mean that morality too, is subject to change depending on where you are in the world and where you are in history? Slavery for…

Words 688 - Pages 3