Descriptive research

The purpose of descriptive research, which may be either qualitative or quantitative, is to describe behaviors, situations, events, and results. It is not intended to make theoretical predictions or explain cause and effect. Descriptive research may be conducted through observation, case studies, or survey research. Observation generally involves watching subjects, either in their natural setting or in a laboratory, and keeping careful records of what occurs. A case study may involve either an individual or a group of individuals; it tends to be more comprehensive than the observational method, since researchers are able to examine a wide range of factors related to a particular case. Surveys generally involve gathering data through either brief interviews or lengthy discussions related to a narrow topic. Some descriptive researchers also employ either qualitative or archival techniques to analyze what other researchers have discovered about particular subjects.

Overview

Descriptive research methods allow researchers to identify numerous details about a subject through observation, which may take place either in a laboratory or in a natural setting in which the subject is relatively comfortable. Observations conducted in a natural setting are more likely to reflect common everyday behaviors than those made in a laboratory setting. On the other hand, laboratory settings allow researchers to exercise greater control over the research environment and may produce more meaningful results. Additionally, laboratory settings reduce research costs, since it requires less time to perform descriptive research in a lab than in a subject’s normal environment.

The case study is a major tool of descriptive research that allows researchers to examine more complex topics. Such research projects provide an ideal avenue for testing hypotheses and identifying unusual aspects of individual cases. Researchers who conduct case studies should be wary of expectancy effects and of individuals who noticeably differ from the identifiable norm. Expectancy effects occur when a researcher unwittingly influences behaviors by exhibiting personal biases, or when a subject unwittingly influences results by exhibiting or conforming to expectations. Subjects who differ from the identifiable norm—that is, who exhibit atypical behavior in a given situation—can present a problem if their behavior is used to draw conclusions about how other subjects act in similar situations. In both cases, the results of descriptive research may be flawed.

Surveys offer a valid alternative to observation and case studies. They allow researchers to shape data by controlling what questions are asked and answered. The proper construction of all questions is crucial to eliciting valid results that may be replicated in other studies. Questions should be clearly stated and easily understood. They may be closed-ended, requiring the participant to choose from a list of possible answers, or they may be open-ended, which allows participants a good deal of leeway in their answers. Some researchers opt for constructing questions that combine the two methods, while others choose to have participants respond to questions via an accepted rating scale.

Descriptive research is different from qualitative research in that it allows for deeper analysis and is more likely to focus on a single aspect of a wider topic. It frequently builds on hypotheses formed during the course of qualitative research. The key to both kinds of research is to refrain from manipulating the context of the research and to keep subjects rather than researchers at the forefront of research activities. In order to collect data, descriptive researchers may depend on already accepted behavioral categories, or they may rely solely on numerical results. One of the greatest advantages of descriptive research is that it allows researchers to conduct research on either individuals or large groups. Both methods assist researchers in using collected data to analyze responses to better understand particular areas of concern.

Bibliography

Creswell, John W. A Concise Introduction to Mixed Methods Research. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2015. Print.

Fitzpatrick, Joyce J., and Meredith Wallace Kazer, eds. Encyclopedia of Nursing Research. 3rd ed. New York: Springer, 2012. Print.

Habib, Md. Mamun, Bishwajit Banik Pathik, and Hafsa Maryam. Research Methodology—Contemporary Practices: Guidelines for Academic Researchers. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars, 2014. Print.

Hancock, Dawson R., and Bob Algozzine. Doing Case Study Research: A Practical Guide for Beginning Researchers. 2nd ed. New York: Teachers Coll. P, 2011. Print.

Nardi, Peter M. Doing Survey Research: A Guide to Quantitative Methods. 3rd ed. 2014. New York: Routledge, 2016. Print.

Sandelowski, Margarete. "Focus on Research Methods: Whatever Happened to Qualitative Description?" Research in Nursing & Health 23.4 (2000): 334–40. Print.

Wheelan, Charles J. Naked Statistics: Stripping the Dread from the Data. New York: Norton, 2013. Print.