conclusion of descriptive research

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How to Write a Conclusion for Research Papers (with Examples)

The conclusion of a research paper is a crucial section that plays a significant role in the overall impact and effectiveness of your research paper. However, this is also the section that typically receives less attention compared to the introduction and the body of the paper. The conclusion serves to provide a concise summary of the key findings, their significance, their implications, and a sense of closure to the study. Discussing how can the findings be applied in real-world scenarios or inform policy, practice, or decision-making is especially valuable to practitioners and policymakers. The research paper conclusion also provides researchers with clear insights and valuable information for their own work, which they can then build on and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field.

The research paper conclusion should explain the significance of your findings within the broader context of your field. It restates how your results contribute to the existing body of knowledge and whether they confirm or challenge existing theories or hypotheses. Also, by identifying unanswered questions or areas requiring further investigation, your awareness of the broader research landscape can be demonstrated.

Remember to tailor the research paper conclusion to the specific needs and interests of your intended audience, which may include researchers, practitioners, policymakers, or a combination of these.

Table of Contents

What is a conclusion in a research paper, summarizing conclusion, editorial conclusion, externalizing conclusion, importance of a good research paper conclusion, how to write a conclusion for your research paper, research paper conclusion examples.

• How to write a research paper conclusion with Paperpal? 

Frequently Asked Questions

A conclusion in a research paper is the final section where you summarize and wrap up your research, presenting the key findings and insights derived from your study. The research paper conclusion is not the place to introduce new information or data that was not discussed in the main body of the paper. When working on how to conclude a research paper, remember to stick to summarizing and interpreting existing content. The research paper conclusion serves the following purposes: 1

• Warn readers of the possible consequences of not attending to the problem.
• Recommend specific course(s) of action.
• Restate key ideas to drive home the ultimate point of your research paper.
• Provide a “take-home” message that you want the readers to remember about your study.

Types of conclusions for research papers

In research papers, the conclusion provides closure to the reader. The type of research paper conclusion you choose depends on the nature of your study, your goals, and your target audience. I provide you with three common types of conclusions:

A summarizing conclusion is the most common type of conclusion in research papers. It involves summarizing the main points, reiterating the research question, and restating the significance of the findings. This common type of research paper conclusion is used across different disciplines.

An editorial conclusion is less common but can be used in research papers that are focused on proposing or advocating for a particular viewpoint or policy. It involves presenting a strong editorial or opinion based on the research findings and offering recommendations or calls to action.

An externalizing conclusion is a type of conclusion that extends the research beyond the scope of the paper by suggesting potential future research directions or discussing the broader implications of the findings. This type of conclusion is often used in more theoretical or exploratory research papers.

Align your conclusion’s tone with the rest of your research paper. Start Writing with Paperpal Now!  

The conclusion in a research paper serves several important purposes:

• Offers Implications and Recommendations : Your research paper conclusion is an excellent place to discuss the broader implications of your research and suggest potential areas for further study. It’s also an opportunity to offer practical recommendations based on your findings.
• Provides Closure : A good research paper conclusion provides a sense of closure to your paper. It should leave the reader with a feeling that they have reached the end of a well-structured and thought-provoking research project.
• Leaves a Lasting Impression : Writing a well-crafted research paper conclusion leaves a lasting impression on your readers. It’s your final opportunity to leave them with a new idea, a call to action, or a memorable quote.

Writing a strong conclusion for your research paper is essential to leave a lasting impression on your readers. Here’s a step-by-step process to help you create and know what to put in the conclusion of a research paper: 2

• Research Statement : Begin your research paper conclusion by restating your research statement. This reminds the reader of the main point you’ve been trying to prove throughout your paper. Keep it concise and clear.
• Key Points : Summarize the main arguments and key points you’ve made in your paper. Avoid introducing new information in the research paper conclusion. Instead, provide a concise overview of what you’ve discussed in the body of your paper.
• Address the Research Questions : If your research paper is based on specific research questions or hypotheses, briefly address whether you’ve answered them or achieved your research goals. Discuss the significance of your findings in this context.
• Significance : Highlight the importance of your research and its relevance in the broader context. Explain why your findings matter and how they contribute to the existing knowledge in your field.
• Implications : Explore the practical or theoretical implications of your research. How might your findings impact future research, policy, or real-world applications? Consider the “so what?” question.
• Future Research : Offer suggestions for future research in your area. What questions or aspects remain unanswered or warrant further investigation? This shows that your work opens the door for future exploration.
• Closing Thought : Conclude your research paper conclusion with a thought-provoking or memorable statement. This can leave a lasting impression on your readers and wrap up your paper effectively. Avoid introducing new information or arguments here.
• Proofread and Revise : Carefully proofread your conclusion for grammar, spelling, and clarity. Ensure that your ideas flow smoothly and that your conclusion is coherent and well-structured.

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Remember that a well-crafted research paper conclusion is a reflection of the strength of your research and your ability to communicate its significance effectively. It should leave a lasting impression on your readers and tie together all the threads of your paper. Now you know how to start the conclusion of a research paper and what elements to include to make it impactful, let’s look at a research paper conclusion sample.

How to write a research paper conclusion with Paperpal?

A research paper conclusion is not just a summary of your study, but a synthesis of the key findings that ties the research together and places it in a broader context. A research paper conclusion should be concise, typically around one paragraph in length. However, some complex topics may require a longer conclusion to ensure the reader is left with a clear understanding of the study’s significance. Paperpal, an AI writing assistant trusted by over 800,000 academics globally, can help you write a well-structured conclusion for your research paper. 

• Sign Up or Log In: Create a new Paperpal account or login with your details.  
• Navigate to Features : Once logged in, head over to the features’ side navigation pane. Click on Templates and you’ll find a suite of generative AI features to help you write better, faster.  
• Generate an outline: Under Templates, select ‘Outlines’. Choose ‘Research article’ as your document type.  
• Select your section: Since you’re focusing on the conclusion, select this section when prompted.  
• Choose your field of study: Identifying your field of study allows Paperpal to provide more targeted suggestions, ensuring the relevance of your conclusion to your specific area of research. 
• Provide a brief description of your study: Enter details about your research topic and findings. This information helps Paperpal generate a tailored outline that aligns with your paper’s content. 
• Generate the conclusion outline: After entering all necessary details, click on ‘generate’. Paperpal will then create a structured outline for your conclusion, to help you start writing and build upon the outline.  
• Write your conclusion: Use the generated outline to build your conclusion. The outline serves as a guide, ensuring you cover all critical aspects of a strong conclusion, from summarizing key findings to highlighting the research’s implications. 
• Refine and enhance: Paperpal’s ‘Make Academic’ feature can be particularly useful in the final stages. Select any paragraph of your conclusion and use this feature to elevate the academic tone, ensuring your writing is aligned to the academic journal standards. 

By following these steps, Paperpal not only simplifies the process of writing a research paper conclusion but also ensures it is impactful, concise, and aligned with academic standards. Sign up with Paperpal today and write your research paper conclusion 2x faster .  

The research paper conclusion is a crucial part of your paper as it provides the final opportunity to leave a strong impression on your readers. In the research paper conclusion, summarize the main points of your research paper by restating your research statement, highlighting the most important findings, addressing the research questions or objectives, explaining the broader context of the study, discussing the significance of your findings, providing recommendations if applicable, and emphasizing the takeaway message. The main purpose of the conclusion is to remind the reader of the main point or argument of your paper and to provide a clear and concise summary of the key findings and their implications. All these elements should feature on your list of what to put in the conclusion of a research paper to create a strong final statement for your work.

A strong conclusion is a critical component of a research paper, as it provides an opportunity to wrap up your arguments, reiterate your main points, and leave a lasting impression on your readers. Here are the key elements of a strong research paper conclusion: 1. Conciseness : A research paper conclusion should be concise and to the point. It should not introduce new information or ideas that were not discussed in the body of the paper. 2. Summarization : The research paper conclusion should be comprehensive enough to give the reader a clear understanding of the research’s main contributions. 3 . Relevance : Ensure that the information included in the research paper conclusion is directly relevant to the research paper’s main topic and objectives; avoid unnecessary details. 4 . Connection to the Introduction : A well-structured research paper conclusion often revisits the key points made in the introduction and shows how the research has addressed the initial questions or objectives. 5. Emphasis : Highlight the significance and implications of your research. Why is your study important? What are the broader implications or applications of your findings? 6 . Call to Action : Include a call to action or a recommendation for future research or action based on your findings.

The length of a research paper conclusion can vary depending on several factors, including the overall length of the paper, the complexity of the research, and the specific journal requirements. While there is no strict rule for the length of a conclusion, but it’s generally advisable to keep it relatively short. A typical research paper conclusion might be around 5-10% of the paper’s total length. For example, if your paper is 10 pages long, the conclusion might be roughly half a page to one page in length.

In general, you do not need to include citations in the research paper conclusion. Citations are typically reserved for the body of the paper to support your arguments and provide evidence for your claims. However, there may be some exceptions to this rule: 1. If you are drawing a direct quote or paraphrasing a specific source in your research paper conclusion, you should include a citation to give proper credit to the original author. 2. If your conclusion refers to or discusses specific research, data, or sources that are crucial to the overall argument, citations can be included to reinforce your conclusion’s validity.

The conclusion of a research paper serves several important purposes: 1. Summarize the Key Points 2. Reinforce the Main Argument 3. Provide Closure 4. Offer Insights or Implications 5. Engage the Reader. 6. Reflect on Limitations

Remember that the primary purpose of the research paper conclusion is to leave a lasting impression on the reader, reinforcing the key points and providing closure to your research. It’s often the last part of the paper that the reader will see, so it should be strong and well-crafted.

• Makar, G., Foltz, C., Lendner, M., & Vaccaro, A. R. (2018). How to write effective discussion and conclusion sections. Clinical spine surgery, 31(8), 345-346.
• Bunton, D. (2005). The structure of PhD conclusion chapters.  Journal of English for academic purposes ,  4 (3), 207-224.

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• What is descriptive research?

Last updated

5 February 2023

Reviewed by

Cathy Heath

Descriptive research is a common investigatory model used by researchers in various fields, including social sciences, linguistics, and academia.

Read on to understand the characteristics of descriptive research and explore its underlying techniques, processes, and procedures.

Analyze your descriptive research

Dovetail streamlines analysis to help you uncover and share actionable insights

Descriptive research is an exploratory research method. It enables researchers to precisely and methodically describe a population, circumstance, or phenomenon.

As the name suggests, descriptive research describes the characteristics of the group, situation, or phenomenon being studied without manipulating variables or testing hypotheses . This can be reported using surveys , observational studies, and case studies. You can use both quantitative and qualitative methods to compile the data.

Besides making observations and then comparing and analyzing them, descriptive studies often develop knowledge concepts and provide solutions to critical issues. It always aims to answer how the event occurred, when it occurred, where it occurred, and what the problem or phenomenon is.

• Characteristics of descriptive research

The following are some of the characteristics of descriptive research:

Quantitativeness

Descriptive research can be quantitative as it gathers quantifiable data to statistically analyze a population sample. These numbers can show patterns, connections, and trends over time and can be discovered using surveys, polls, and experiments.

Qualitativeness

Descriptive research can also be qualitative. It gives meaning and context to the numbers supplied by quantitative descriptive research .

Researchers can use tools like interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic studies to illustrate why things are what they are and help characterize the research problem. This is because it’s more explanatory than exploratory or experimental research.

Uncontrolled variables

Descriptive research differs from experimental research in that researchers cannot manipulate the variables. They are recognized, scrutinized, and quantified instead. This is one of its most prominent features.

Cross-sectional studies

Descriptive research is a cross-sectional study because it examines several areas of the same group. It involves obtaining data on multiple variables at the personal level during a certain period. It’s helpful when trying to understand a larger community’s habits or preferences.

Carried out in a natural environment

Descriptive studies are usually carried out in the participants’ everyday environment, which allows researchers to avoid influencing responders by collecting data in a natural setting. You can use online surveys or survey questions to collect data or observe.

Basis for further research

You can further dissect descriptive research’s outcomes and use them for different types of investigation. The outcomes also serve as a foundation for subsequent investigations and can guide future studies. For example, you can use the data obtained in descriptive research to help determine future research designs.

• Descriptive research methods

There are three basic approaches for gathering data in descriptive research: observational, case study, and survey.

You can use surveys to gather data in descriptive research. This involves gathering information from many people using a questionnaire and interview .

Surveys remain the dominant research tool for descriptive research design. Researchers can conduct various investigations and collect multiple types of data (quantitative and qualitative) using surveys with diverse designs.

You can conduct surveys over the phone, online, or in person. Your survey might be a brief interview or conversation with a set of prepared questions intended to obtain quick information from the primary source.

Observation

This descriptive research method involves observing and gathering data on a population or phenomena without manipulating variables. It is employed in psychology, market research , and other social science studies to track and understand human behavior.

Observation is an essential component of descriptive research. It entails gathering data and analyzing it to see whether there is a relationship between the two variables in the study. This strategy usually allows for both qualitative and quantitative data analysis.

Case studies

A case study can outline a specific topic’s traits. The topic might be a person, group, event, or organization.

It involves using a subset of a larger group as a sample to characterize the features of that larger group.

You can generalize knowledge gained from studying a case study to benefit a broader audience.

This approach entails carefully examining a particular group, person, or event over time. You can learn something new about the study topic by using a small group to better understand the dynamics of the entire group.

• Types of descriptive research

There are several types of descriptive study. The most well-known include cross-sectional studies, census surveys, sample surveys, case reports, and comparison studies.

Case reports and case series

In the healthcare and medical fields, a case report is used to explain a patient’s circumstances when suffering from an uncommon illness or displaying certain symptoms. Case reports and case series are both collections of related cases. They have aided the advancement of medical knowledge on countless occasions.

The normative component is an addition to the descriptive survey. In the descriptive–normative survey, you compare the study’s results to the norm.

Descriptive survey

This descriptive type of research employs surveys to collect information on various topics. This data aims to determine the degree to which certain conditions may be attained.

You can extrapolate or generalize the information you obtain from sample surveys to the larger group being researched.

Correlative survey

Correlative surveys help establish if there is a positive, negative, or neutral connection between two variables.

Performing census surveys involves gathering relevant data on several aspects of a given population. These units include individuals, families, organizations, objects, characteristics, and properties.

During descriptive research, you gather different degrees of interest over time from a specific population. Cross-sectional studies provide a glimpse of a phenomenon’s prevalence and features in a population. There are no ethical challenges with them and they are quite simple and inexpensive to carry out.

Comparative studies

These surveys compare the two subjects’ conditions or characteristics. The subjects may include research variables, organizations, plans, and people.

Comparison points, assumption of similarities, and criteria of comparison are three important variables that affect how well and accurately comparative studies are conducted.

For instance, descriptive research can help determine how many CEOs hold a bachelor’s degree and what proportion of low-income households receive government help.

• Pros and cons

The primary advantage of descriptive research designs is that researchers can create a reliable and beneficial database for additional study. To conduct any inquiry, you need access to reliable information sources that can give you a firm understanding of a situation.

Quantitative studies are time- and resource-intensive, so knowing the hypotheses viable for testing is crucial. The basic overview of descriptive research provides helpful hints as to which variables are worth quantitatively examining. This is why it’s employed as a precursor to quantitative research designs.

Some experts view this research as untrustworthy and unscientific. However, there is no way to assess the findings because you don’t manipulate any variables statistically.

Cause-and-effect correlations also can’t be established through descriptive investigations. Additionally, observational study findings cannot be replicated, which prevents a review of the findings and their replication.

The absence of statistical and in-depth analysis and the rather superficial character of the investigative procedure are drawbacks of this research approach.

• Descriptive research examples and applications

Several descriptive research examples are emphasized based on their types, purposes, and applications. Research questions often begin with “What is …” These studies help find solutions to practical issues in social science, physical science, and education.

Here are some examples and applications of descriptive research:

Determining consumer perception and behavior

Organizations use descriptive research designs to determine how various demographic groups react to a certain product or service.

For example, a business looking to sell to its target market should research the market’s behavior first. When researching human behavior in response to a cause or event, the researcher pays attention to the traits, actions, and responses before drawing a conclusion.

Scientific classification

Scientific descriptive research enables the classification of organisms and their traits and constituents.

Measuring data trends

A descriptive study design’s statistical capabilities allow researchers to track data trends over time. It’s frequently used to determine the study target’s current circumstances and underlying patterns.

Conduct comparison

Organizations can use a descriptive research approach to learn how various demographics react to a certain product or service. For example, you can study how the target market responds to a competitor’s product and use that information to infer their behavior.

• Bottom line

A descriptive research design is suitable for exploring certain topics and serving as a prelude to larger quantitative investigations. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the “what” of the group or thing you’re investigating.

This research type acts as the cornerstone of other research methodologies . It is distinctive because it can use quantitative and qualitative research approaches at the same time.

What is descriptive research design?

Descriptive research design aims to systematically obtain information to describe a phenomenon, situation, or population. More specifically, it helps answer the what, when, where, and how questions regarding the research problem rather than the why.

How does descriptive research compare to qualitative research?

Despite certain parallels, descriptive research concentrates on describing phenomena, while qualitative research aims to understand people better.

How do you analyze descriptive research data?

Data analysis involves using various methodologies, enabling the researcher to evaluate and provide results regarding validity and reliability.

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• Descriptive Research Designs: Types, Examples & Methods

One of the components of research is getting enough information about the research problem—the what, how, when and where answers, which is why descriptive research is an important type of research. It is very useful when conducting research whose aim is to identify characteristics, frequencies, trends, correlations, and categories.

This research method takes a problem with little to no relevant information and gives it a befitting description using qualitative and quantitative research method s. Descriptive research aims to accurately describe a research problem.

In the subsequent sections, we will be explaining what descriptive research means, its types, examples, and data collection methods.

What is Descriptive Research?

Descriptive research is a type of research that describes a population, situation, or phenomenon that is being studied. It focuses on answering the how, what, when, and where questions If a research problem, rather than the why.

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. 

For example, an investor considering an investment in the ever-changing Amsterdam housing market needs to understand what the current state of the market is, how it changes (increasing or decreasing), and when it changes (time of the year) before asking for the why. This is where descriptive research comes in.

What Are The Types of Descriptive Research?

Descriptive research is classified into different types according to the kind of approach that is used in conducting descriptive research. The different types of descriptive research are highlighted below:

• Descriptive-survey

Descriptive survey research uses surveys to gather data about varying subjects. This data aims to know the extent to which different conditions can be obtained among these subjects.

For example, a researcher wants to determine the qualification of employed professionals in Maryland. He uses a survey as his research instrument , and each item on the survey related to qualifications is subjected to a Yes/No answer. 

This way, the researcher can describe the qualifications possessed by the employed demographics of this community. 

• Descriptive-normative survey

This is an extension of the descriptive survey, with the addition being the normative element. In the descriptive-normative survey, the results of the study should be compared with the norm.

For example, an organization that wishes to test the skills of its employees by a team may have them take a skills test. The skills tests are the evaluation tool in this case, and the result of this test is compared with the norm of each role.

If the score of the team is one standard deviation above the mean, it is very satisfactory, if within the mean, satisfactory, and one standard deviation below the mean is unsatisfactory.

• Descriptive-status

This is a quantitative description technique that seeks to answer questions about real-life situations. For example, a researcher researching the income of the employees in a company, and the relationship with their performance.

A survey will be carried out to gather enough data about the income of the employees, then their performance will be evaluated and compared to their income. This will help determine whether a higher income means better performance and low income means lower performance or vice versa.

• Descriptive-analysis

The descriptive-analysis method of research describes a subject by further analyzing it, which in this case involves dividing it into 2 parts. For example, the HR personnel of a company that wishes to analyze the job role of each employee of the company may divide the employees into the people that work at the Headquarters in the US and those that work from Oslo, Norway office.

A questionnaire is devised to analyze the job role of employees with similar salaries and who work in similar positions.

• Descriptive classification

This method is employed in biological sciences for the classification of plants and animals. A researcher who wishes to classify the sea animals into different species will collect samples from various search stations, then classify them accordingly.

• Descriptive-comparative

In descriptive-comparative research, the researcher considers 2 variables that are not manipulated, and establish a formal procedure to conclude that one is better than the other. For example, an examination body wants to determine the better method of conducting tests between paper-based and computer-based tests.

A random sample of potential participants of the test may be asked to use the 2 different methods, and factors like failure rates, time factors, and others will be evaluated to arrive at the best method.

• Correlative Survey

Correlative surveys are used to determine whether the relationship between 2 variables is positive, negative, or neutral. That is, if 2 variables say X and Y are directly proportional, inversely proportional or are not related to each other.

Examples of Descriptive Research

There are different examples of descriptive research, that may be highlighted from its types, uses, and applications. However, we will be restricting ourselves to only 3 distinct examples in this article.

• Comparing Student Performance:

An academic institution may wish 2 compare the performance of its junior high school students in English language and Mathematics. This may be used to classify students based on 2 major groups, with one group going ahead to study while courses, while the other study courses in the Arts & Humanities field.

Students who are more proficient in mathematics will be encouraged to go into STEM and vice versa. Institutions may also use this data to identify students’ weak points and work on ways to assist them.

• Scientific Classification

During the major scientific classification of plants, animals, and periodic table elements, the characteristics and components of each subject are evaluated and used to determine how they are classified.

For example, living things may be classified into kingdom Plantae or kingdom animal is depending on their nature. Further classification may group animals into mammals, pieces, vertebrae, invertebrae, etc. 

All these classifications are made a result of descriptive research which describes what they are.

• Human Behavior

When studying human behaviour based on a factor or event, the researcher observes the characteristics, behaviour, and reaction, then use it to conclude. A company willing to sell to its target market needs to first study the behaviour of the market.

This may be done by observing how its target reacts to a competitor’s product, then use it to determine their behaviour.

What are the Characteristics of Descriptive Research?  

The characteristics of descriptive research can be highlighted from its definition, applications, data collection methods, and examples. Some characteristics of descriptive research are:

• Quantitativeness

Descriptive research uses a quantitative research method by collecting quantifiable information to be used for statistical analysis of the population sample. This is very common when dealing with research in the physical sciences.

• Qualitativeness

It can also be carried out using the qualitative research method, to properly describe the research problem. This is because descriptive research is more explanatory than exploratory or experimental.

• Uncontrolled variables

In descriptive research, researchers cannot control the variables like they do in experimental research.

• The basis for further research

The results of descriptive research can be further analyzed and used in other research methods. It can also inform the next line of research, including the research method that should be used.

This is because it provides basic information about the research problem, which may give birth to other questions like why a particular thing is the way it is.

Why Use Descriptive Research Design?  

Descriptive research can be used to investigate the background of a research problem and get the required information needed to carry out further research. It is used in multiple ways by different organizations, and especially when getting the required information about their target audience.

• Define subject characteristics :

It is used to determine the characteristics of the subjects, including their traits, behaviour, opinion, etc. This information may be gathered with the use of surveys, which are shared with the respondents who in this case, are the research subjects.

For example, a survey evaluating the number of hours millennials in a community spends on the internet weekly, will help a service provider make informed business decisions regarding the market potential of the community.

• Measure Data Trends

It helps to measure the changes in data over some time through statistical methods. Consider the case of individuals who want to invest in stock markets, so they evaluate the changes in prices of the available stocks to make a decision investment decision.

Brokerage companies are however the ones who carry out the descriptive research process, while individuals can view the data trends and make decisions.

Descriptive research is also used to compare how different demographics respond to certain variables. For example, an organization may study how people with different income levels react to the launch of a new Apple phone.

This kind of research may take a survey that will help determine which group of individuals are purchasing the new Apple phone. Do the low-income earners also purchase the phone, or only the high-income earners do?

Further research using another technique will explain why low-income earners are purchasing the phone even though they can barely afford it. This will help inform strategies that will lure other low-income earners and increase company sales.

• Validate existing conditions

When you are not sure about the validity of an existing condition, you can use descriptive research to ascertain the underlying patterns of the research object. This is because descriptive research methods make an in-depth analysis of each variable before making conclusions.

• Conducted Overtime

Descriptive research is conducted over some time to ascertain the changes observed at each point in time. The higher the number of times it is conducted, the more authentic the conclusion will be.

What are the Disadvantages of Descriptive Research?  

• Response and Non-response Bias

Respondents may either decide not to respond to questions or give incorrect responses if they feel the questions are too confidential. When researchers use observational methods, respondents may also decide to behave in a particular manner because they feel they are being watched.

• The researcher may decide to influence the result of the research due to personal opinion or bias towards a particular subject. For example, a stockbroker who also has a business of his own may try to lure investors into investing in his own company by manipulating results.
• A case-study or sample taken from a large population is not representative of the whole population.
• Limited scope:The scope of descriptive research is limited to the what of research, with no information on why thereby limiting the scope of the research.

What are the Data Collection Methods in Descriptive Research?  

There are 3 main data collection methods in descriptive research, namely; observational method, case study method, and survey research.

1. Observational Method

The observational method allows researchers to collect data based on their view of the behaviour and characteristics of the respondent, with the respondents themselves not directly having an input. It is often used in market research, psychology, and some other social science research to understand human behaviour.

It is also an important aspect of physical scientific research, with it being one of the most effective methods of conducting descriptive research . This process can be said to be either quantitative or qualitative.

Quantitative observation involved the objective collection of numerical data , whose results can be analyzed using numerical and statistical methods. 

Qualitative observation, on the other hand, involves the monitoring of characteristics and not the measurement of numbers. The researcher makes his observation from a distance, records it, and is used to inform conclusions.

2. Case Study Method

A case study is a sample group (an individual, a group of people, organizations, events, etc.) whose characteristics are used to describe the characteristics of a larger group in which the case study is a subgroup. The information gathered from investigating a case study may be generalized to serve the larger group.

This generalization, may, however, be risky because case studies are not sufficient to make accurate predictions about larger groups. Case studies are a poor case of generalization.

3. Survey Research

This is a very popular data collection method in research designs. In survey research, researchers create a survey or questionnaire and distribute it to respondents who give answers.

Generally, it is used to obtain quick information directly from the primary source and also conducting rigorous quantitative and qualitative research. In some cases, survey research uses a blend of both qualitative and quantitative strategies.

Survey research can be carried out both online and offline using the following methods

• Online Surveys: This is a cheap method of carrying out surveys and getting enough responses. It can be carried out using Formplus, an online survey builder. Formplus has amazing tools and features that will help increase response rates.
• Offline Surveys: This includes paper forms, mobile offline forms , and SMS-based forms.

What Are The Differences Between Descriptive and Correlational Research?  

Before going into the differences between descriptive and correlation research, we need to have a proper understanding of what correlation research is about. Therefore, we will be giving a summary of the correlation research below.

Correlational research is a type of descriptive research, which is used to measure the relationship between 2 variables, with the researcher having no control over them. It aims to find whether there is; positive correlation (both variables change in the same direction), negative correlation (the variables change in the opposite direction), or zero correlation (there is no relationship between the variables).

Correlational research may be used in 2 situations;

(i) when trying to find out if there is a relationship between two variables, and

(ii) when a causal relationship is suspected between two variables, but it is impractical or unethical to conduct experimental research that manipulates one of the variables. 

Below are some of the differences between correlational and descriptive research:

• Definitions :

Descriptive research aims is a type of research that provides an in-depth understanding of the study population, while correlational research is the type of research that measures the relationship between 2 variables. 

• Characteristics :

Descriptive research provides descriptive data explaining what the research subject is about, while correlation research explores the relationship between data and not their description.

• Predictions :

 Predictions cannot be made in descriptive research while correlation research accommodates the possibility of making predictions.

Descriptive Research vs. Causal Research

Descriptive research and causal research are both research methodologies, however, one focuses on a subject’s behaviors while the latter focuses on a relationship’s cause-and-effect. To buttress the above point, descriptive research aims to describe and document the characteristics, behaviors, or phenomena of a particular or specific population or situation. 

It focuses on providing an accurate and detailed account of an already existing state of affairs between variables. Descriptive research answers the questions of “what,” “where,” “when,” and “how” without attempting to establish any causal relationships or explain any underlying factors that might have caused the behavior.

Causal research, on the other hand, seeks to determine cause-and-effect relationships between variables. It aims to point out the factors that influence or cause a particular result or behavior. Causal research involves manipulating variables, controlling conditions or a subgroup, and observing the resulting effects. The primary objective of causal research is to establish a cause-effect relationship and provide insights into why certain phenomena happen the way they do.

Descriptive Research vs. Analytical Research

Descriptive research provides a detailed and comprehensive account of a specific situation or phenomenon. It focuses on describing and summarizing data without making inferences or attempting to explain underlying factors or the cause of the factor. 

It is primarily concerned with providing an accurate and objective representation of the subject of research. While analytical research goes beyond the description of the phenomena and seeks to analyze and interpret data to discover if there are patterns, relationships, or any underlying factors. 

It examines the data critically, applies statistical techniques or other analytical methods, and draws conclusions based on the discovery. Analytical research also aims to explore the relationships between variables and understand the underlying mechanisms or processes involved.

Descriptive Research vs. Exploratory Research

Descriptive research is a research method that focuses on providing a detailed and accurate account of a specific situation, group, or phenomenon. This type of research describes the characteristics, behaviors, or relationships within the given context without looking for an underlying cause. 

Descriptive research typically involves collecting and analyzing quantitative or qualitative data to generate descriptive statistics or narratives. Exploratory research differs from descriptive research because it aims to explore and gain firsthand insights or knowledge into a relatively unexplored or poorly understood topic. 

It focuses on generating ideas, hypotheses, or theories rather than providing definitive answers. Exploratory research is often conducted at the early stages of a research project to gather preliminary information and identify key variables or factors for further investigation. It involves open-ended interviews, observations, or small-scale surveys to gather qualitative data.

Read More – Exploratory Research: What are its Method & Examples?

Descriptive Research vs. Experimental Research

Descriptive research aims to describe and document the characteristics, behaviors, or phenomena of a particular population or situation. It focuses on providing an accurate and detailed account of the existing state of affairs. 

Descriptive research typically involves collecting data through surveys, observations, or existing records and analyzing the data to generate descriptive statistics or narratives. It does not involve manipulating variables or establishing cause-and-effect relationships.

Experimental research, on the other hand, involves manipulating variables and controlling conditions to investigate cause-and-effect relationships. It aims to establish causal relationships by introducing an intervention or treatment and observing the resulting effects. 

Experimental research typically involves randomly assigning participants to different groups, such as control and experimental groups, and measuring the outcomes. It allows researchers to control for confounding variables and draw causal conclusions.

Related – Experimental vs Non-Experimental Research: 15 Key Differences

Descriptive Research vs. Explanatory Research

Descriptive research focuses on providing a detailed and accurate account of a specific situation, group, or phenomenon. It aims to describe the characteristics, behaviors, or relationships within the given context. 

Descriptive research is primarily concerned with providing an objective representation of the subject of study without explaining underlying causes or mechanisms. Explanatory research seeks to explain the relationships between variables and uncover the underlying causes or mechanisms. 

It goes beyond description and aims to understand the reasons or factors that influence a particular outcome or behavior. Explanatory research involves analyzing data, conducting statistical analyses, and developing theories or models to explain the observed relationships.

Descriptive Research vs. Inferential Research

Descriptive research focuses on describing and summarizing data without making inferences or generalizations beyond the specific sample or population being studied. It aims to provide an accurate and objective representation of the subject of study. 

Descriptive research typically involves analyzing data to generate descriptive statistics, such as means, frequencies, or percentages, to describe the characteristics or behaviors observed.

Inferential research, however, involves making inferences or generalizations about a larger population based on a smaller sample. 

It aims to draw conclusions about the population characteristics or relationships by analyzing the sample data. Inferential research uses statistical techniques to estimate population parameters, test hypotheses, and determine the level of confidence or significance in the findings.

Related – Inferential Statistics: Definition, Types + Examples

Conclusion  

The uniqueness of descriptive research partly lies in its ability to explore both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Therefore, when conducting descriptive research, researchers have the opportunity to use a wide variety of techniques that aids the research process.

Descriptive research explores research problems in-depth, beyond the surface level thereby giving a detailed description of the research subject. That way, it can aid further research in the field, including other research methods .

It is also very useful in solving real-life problems in various fields of social science, physical science, and education.

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Descriptive Research in Psychology

Sometimes you need to dig deeper than the pure statistics

John Loeppky is a freelance journalist based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, who has written about disability and health for outlets of all kinds.

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Types of Descriptive Research and the Methods Used

• Advantages & Limitations of Descriptive Research

Best Practices for Conducting Descriptive Research

Descriptive research is one of the key tools needed in any psychology researcher’s toolbox in order to create and lead a project that is both equitable and effective. Because psychology, as a field, loves definitions, let’s start with one. The University of Minnesota’s Introduction to Psychology defines this type of research as one that is “...designed to provide a snapshot of the current state of affairs.” That's pretty broad, so what does that mean in practice? Dr. Heather Derry-Vick (PhD) , an assistant professor in psychiatry at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, helps us put it into perspective. "Descriptive research really focuses on defining, understanding, and measuring a phenomenon or an experience," she says. "Not trying to change a person's experience or outcome, or even really looking at the mechanisms for why that might be happening, but more so describing an experience or a process as it unfolds naturally.”

Within the descriptive research methodology there are multiple types, including the following.

Descriptive Survey Research

This involves going beyond a typical tool like a LIkert Scale —where you typically place your response to a prompt on a one to five scale. We already know that scales like this can be ineffective, particularly when studying pain, for example.

When that's the case, using a descriptive methodology can help dig deeper into how a person is thinking, feeling, and acting rather than simply quantifying it in a way that might be unclear or confusing.

Descriptive Observational Research

Think of observational research like an ethically-focused version of people-watching. One example would be watching the patterns of children on a playground—perhaps when looking at a concept like risky play or seeking to observe social behaviors between children of different ages.

Descriptive Case Study Research

A descriptive approach to a case study is akin to a biography of a person, honing in on the experiences of a small group to extrapolate to larger themes. We most commonly see descriptive case studies when those in the psychology field are using past clients as an example to illustrate a point.

Correlational Descriptive Research

While descriptive research is often about the here and now, this form of the methodology allows researchers to make connections between groups of people. As an example from her research, Derry-Vick says she uses this method to identify how gender might play a role in cancer scan anxiety, aka scanxiety.

Dr. Derry-Vick's research uses surveys and interviews to get a sense of how cancer patients are feeling and what they are experiencing both in the course of their treatment and in the lead-up to their next scan, which can be a significant source of stress.

David Marlon, PsyD, MBA , who works as a clinician and as CEO at Vegas Stronger, and whose research focused on leadership styles at community-based clinics, says that using descriptive research allowed him to get beyond the numbers.

In his case, that includes data points like how many unhoused people found stable housing over a certain period or how many people became drug-free—and identify the reasons for those changes.

Those [data points] are some practical, quantitative tools that are helpful. But when I question them on how safe they feel, when I question them on the depth of the bond or the therapeutic alliance, when I talk to them about their processing of traumas,  wellbeing...these are things that don't really fall on to a yes, no, or even on a Likert scale.

For the portion of his thesis that was focused on descriptive research, Marlon used semi-structured interviews to look at the how and the why of transformational leadership and its impact on clinics’ clients and staff.

Advantages & Limitations of Descriptive Research

So, if the advantages of using descriptive research include that it centers the research participants, gives us a clear picture of what is happening to a person in a particular moment,  and gives us very nuanced insights into how a particular situation is being perceived by the very person affected, are there drawbacks? Yes, there are. Dr. Derry-Vick says that it’s important to keep in mind that just because descriptive research tells us something is happening doesn’t mean it necessarily leads us to the resolution of a given problem.

I think that, by design, the descriptive research might not tell you why a phenomenon is happening. So it might tell you, very well, how often it's happening, or what the levels are, or help you understand it in depth. But that may or may not always tell you information about the causes or mechanisms for why something is happening.

Another limitation she identifies is that it also can’t tell you, on its own, whether a particular treatment pathway is having the desired effect.

“Descriptive research in and of itself can't really tell you whether a specific approach is going to be helpful until you take in a different approach to actually test it.”

Marlon, who believes in a multi-disciplinary approach, says that his subfield—addictions—is one where descriptive research had its limits, but helps readers go beyond preconceived notions of what addictions treatment looks and feels like when it is effective. “If we talked to and interviewed and got descriptive information from the clinicians and the clients, a much more precise picture would be painted, showing the need for a client's specific multidisciplinary approach augmented with a variety of modalities," he says. "If you tried to look at my discipline in a pure quantitative approach , it wouldn't begin to tell the real story.”

Because you’re controlling far fewer variables than other forms of research, it’s important to identify whether those you are describing, your study participants, should be informed that they are part of a study.

For example, if you’re observing and describing who is buying what in a grocery store to identify patterns, then you might not need to identify yourself.

However, if you’re asking people about their fear of certain treatment, or how their marginalized identities impact their mental health in a particular way, there is far more of a pressure to think deeply about how you, as the researcher, are connected to the people you are researching.

Many descriptive research projects use interviews as a form of research gathering and, as a result, descriptive research that is focused on this type of data gathering also has ethical and practical concerns attached. Thankfully, there are plenty of guides from established researchers about how to best conduct these interviews and/or formulate surveys .

While descriptive research has its limits, it is commonly used by researchers to get a clear vantage point on what is happening in a given situation.

Tools like surveys, interviews, and observation are often employed to dive deeper into a given issue and really highlight the human element in psychological research. At its core, descriptive research is rooted in a collaborative style that allows deeper insights when used effectively.

University of Minnesota. Introduction to Psychology .

By John Loeppky John Loeppky is a freelance journalist based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, who has written about disability and health for outlets of all kinds.

How to Write a Research Paper Conclusion

Wrapping up a paper may seem simple enough, but if you don’t know how to write a research paper conclusion, it can sometimes be the hardest part of the paper-writing process.

In this guide, we share expert advice on how to write a research paper conclusion. We explain what to put (and what not to put) in a research paper conclusion, describe the different types of conclusions, and show you a few different research paper conclusion examples.

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What is a research paper conclusion?

A research paper conclusion should summarize the main points of the paper, help readers contextualize the information, and as the last thing people read, be memorable and leave an impression. The research paper conclusion is the best chance for the author to both reiterate their main points and tie all the information together. All in all, it’s one of the most important parts of writing a research paper .

Research paper conclusions are generally one paragraph long , although more complicated topics may have longer conclusions. Although conclusions don’t normally present new information or data that wasn’t mentioned in the article, they often reframe the issues or offer a new perspective on the topic.

6 elements to include in a research paper conclusion

1 urgency or consequences.

A good conclusion answers the question, Why should the reader care? To connect the information to the reader, point out why your topic should matter to them. What happens if the problem persists, or how can the problem be solved? Feel free to mention common obstacles that feed the problem, implications of the data, or a recommended action for fixing it.

2 Reminder of thesis statement

Research paper conclusions are a great place to revisit your initial thesis statement , a sentence that encapsulates the main topic or problem your paper addresses. Thesis statements are discussed heavily at the beginning of a paper, but they can be even stronger when you reintroduce them at the end, after you’ve presented all your evidence.

3 Recap of main points

Although you don’t want to repeat yourself just for the sake of repetition, a recap of your main points can be helpful to your reader. Think of these as your paper’s “key takeaways,” the parts you want readers to remember. Save the details for the body text and use the conclusion to remind the reader of your strongest supporting evidence before they put your paper down.

4 Parallels to the introduction

The introduction and the conclusion are two sides of the same coin. A useful strategy to consider as you approach writing a research paper conclusion is to follow the same structure or address the same themes as you do in the introduction. For example, if you pose a question in your introduction, you can answer it directly in your conclusion. Keep this in mind when writing your research paper outline so you can properly plan both parts.

5 Limitations of the study

Although this isn’t applicable to every research paper, if you’re writing about actual tests or studies you’ve conducted, there are some ethical requirements for what you put in a research paper conclusion. Specifically, you’re expected to address the limitations of your study; these may include criticisms or flaws in your process that might have affected the results, such as using suboptimal participation groups. It’s best to call these out yourself rather than having a colleague call them out later.

6 Conciseness

Above all, every research paper conclusion should be written with conciseness . In general, conclusions should be short, so keep an eye on your word count as you write and aim to be as succinct as possible. You can expound on your topic in the body of your paper, but the conclusion is more for summarizing and recapping.

5 elements not to include in a research paper conclusion

1 dry summary.

Summarizing may be a crucial part of research paper conclusions, but it’s not the only part. Your conclusion should be more than just a summary; it should shape the way your reader thinks about your topic. Don’t just repeat the facts: Contextualize them for the reader, offer a new perspective, or suggest a step for solving the problem.

2 Generic or clichéd phrasing

Just like our advice for how to write a conclusion for a more general essay, you should also avoid generic or clichéd phrasing in research paper conclusions. Some words or phrases are overused in conclusions to the point of becoming trite. If you want your conclusion to seem fresh and well-written, avoid these phrases:

• in conclusion
• in summary or in summation

3 New data or evidence

Conclusions are not the place to introduce new evidence or data, especially if they are significant enough to reframe your entire argument. Hard facts and supporting evidence belong in the body of the paper; when the reader is absorbing this section, they’re still actively learning about the topic. By the conclusion, the reader is almost done forming their opinion. The conclusion is more about retrospection; introducing unexpected information there can frustrate readers just as much as it surprises them.

4 Ignoring negative results

It might be tempting to sugarcoat negative results or ignore them completely, but that will only harm your paper in the end. It’s always best to own up to any shortcomings in your research and admit them overtly. Your transparency not only helps validate your other research, but it also prevents critics from pointing out these same shortcomings in a more damaging way.

5 Ambiguous resolutions

Part of the appeal of research paper conclusions is the closure they bring; they’re supposed to wrap up arguments and clean up any loose ends. If your conclusion is ambiguous, it can give the impression that your research was incomplete, inadequate, or fundamentally flawed. Rather, write your conclusion with direct language and take a firm stance. Even if the data was inconclusive, state definitively that it was inconclusive. This kind of clarity in writing makes you sound both confident and competent.

Types of research paper conclusions with examples

Although there are no formal types of research paper conclusions, in general they tend to fall into the categories of summary , commentary , and new perspective . Bear in mind that these aren’t mutually exclusive—the same research paper conclusion can summarize and present a new perspective at the same time. Consider mixing and matching parts from each to create the unique blend your own paper needs.

Research paper conclusion example: Summary

The most common type of research paper conclusion is the straight summary, which succinctly repeats the key points of the paper. Keep in mind that a conclusion should do more than merely summarize, so be sure to add some lines that offer extra value or insight.

Like all great scientists, Isaac Newton was able to condense his ideas, however complicated, into the simple and brief laws discussed above. Newton’s law of inertia, his law of action/reaction, and his equation of F=ma —along with his law of gravity, also discussed above—combine to form the very foundation of classical mechanics. Without his laws, physics as we know it wouldn’t exist.

Research paper conclusion example: Commentary

The conclusion can be an opportunity for a writer to share their own personal views. This is especially useful in scientific writing, where the body of the paper is reserved for data and facts, and the conclusion is the only section for personal opinion. Just be careful about getting too subjective—this is still a research paper, not a personal essay .

As you can see by the cause-and-effect relationships pointed out above, an attack on journalism in one part of the world is an attack on journalism everywhere. Though the issue might seem distant, it’s actually right on our doorstep. All of us need to start standing up to the powers that censor the truth and defend the brave journalists who risk their lives to deliver it.

Research paper conclusion example: New perspective

Research paper conclusions are the perfect place to offer a new perspective on your topic. After presenting all your evidence and research, you can now draw connections and synthesize the data to create a unifying theory or new angle. The conclusion is the best place to include this, as the reader is already familiar with all the essential details.

You’ll notice that the studies we examined all come to the same conclusion: Remote working increases both production and employee satisfaction. Ultimately, the idea that remote work hinders productivity is a lie. In fact, the research suggests clearly that remote work should be increased, not done away with. If remote work becomes the norm instead of the exception, businesses could actually achieve new heights.

Research paper conclusion FAQs

What is the purpose of a research paper conclusion.

The purpose of a research paper conclusion is to summarize the main points of the paper, help the reader contextualize the information, and leave a lasting impression on the reader.

What should you include in a research paper conclusion?

A research paper conclusion should include a summary of the key points in your paper. Additionally, the conclusion can reframe the research in a way that’s easier for the reader to understand, often by adding urgency or explaining consequences. The conclusion is also used to mention the limitations of your research, such as an inadequate number of participants.

What are the different kinds of research paper conclusions?

Although there are no formal categories of research paper conclusion, in general research paper conclusions tend to fall into the categories of summary, commentary, and new perspective. Bear in mind that these aren’t mutually exclusive—the same research paper conclusion can both summarize the paper and present a new perspective.

Child Care and Early Education Research Connections

Descriptive research studies.

Descriptive research is a type of research that is used to describe the characteristics of a population. It collects data that are used to answer a wide range of what, when, and how questions pertaining to a particular population or group. For example, descriptive studies might be used to answer questions such as: What percentage of Head Start teachers have a bachelor's degree or higher? What is the average reading ability of 5-year-olds when they first enter kindergarten? What kinds of math activities are used in early childhood programs? When do children first receive regular child care from someone other than their parents? When are children with developmental disabilities first diagnosed and when do they first receive services? What factors do programs consider when making decisions about the type of assessments that will be used to assess the skills of the children in their programs? How do the types of services children receive from their early childhood program change as children age?

Descriptive research does not answer questions about why a certain phenomenon occurs or what the causes are. Answers to such questions are best obtained from  randomized and quasi-experimental studies . However, data from descriptive studies can be used to examine the relationships (correlations) among variables. While the findings from correlational analyses are not evidence of causality, they can help to distinguish variables that may be important in explaining a phenomenon from those that are not. Thus, descriptive research is often used to generate hypotheses that should be tested using more rigorous designs.

A variety of data collection methods may be used alone or in combination to answer the types of questions guiding descriptive research. Some of the more common methods include surveys, interviews, observations, case studies, and portfolios. The data collected through these methods can be either quantitative or qualitative. Quantitative data are typically analyzed and presenting using  descriptive statistics . Using quantitative data, researchers may describe the characteristics of a sample or population in terms of percentages (e.g., percentage of population that belong to different racial/ethnic groups, percentage of low-income families that receive different government services) or averages (e.g., average household income, average scores of reading, mathematics and language assessments). Quantitative data, such as narrative data collected as part of a case study, may be used to organize, classify, and used to identify patterns of behaviors, attitudes, and other characteristics of groups.

Descriptive studies have an important role in early care and education research. Studies such as the  National Survey of Early Care and Education  and the  National Household Education Surveys Program  have greatly increased our knowledge of the supply of and demand for child care in the U.S. The  Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey  and the  Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Program  have provided researchers, policy makers and practitioners with rich information about school readiness skills of children in the U.S.

Each of the methods used to collect descriptive data have their own strengths and limitations. The following are some of the strengths and limitations of descriptive research studies in general.

Study participants are questioned or observed in a natural setting (e.g., their homes, child care or educational settings).

Study data can be used to identify the prevalence of particular problems and the need for new or additional services to address these problems.

Descriptive research may identify areas in need of additional research and relationships between variables that require future study. Descriptive research is often referred to as "hypothesis generating research."

Depending on the data collection method used, descriptive studies can generate rich datasets on large and diverse samples.

Limitations:

Descriptive studies cannot be used to establish cause and effect relationships.

Respondents may not be truthful when answering survey questions or may give socially desirable responses.

The choice and wording of questions on a questionnaire may influence the descriptive findings.

Depending on the type and size of sample, the findings may not be generalizable or produce an accurate description of the population of interest.

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• What is descriptive research: Methods & examples

Defne Çobanoğlu

Being able to observe and describe your surroundings successfully is very crucial when you are doing a study. But what does it really mean? Let us give an example;

You are watching a schoolyard and observing the kids interact with one another. Then, you make comments about their ages, sexes, and playing patterns. You write down how many children there are and how many have blond hair, brown eyes, and stuff like that. In this scenario, you are “describing” them according to your observation. 

Have this concept on a much bigger scale, and you have descriptive research. But why would a researcher need to do this research? Let us see what it means, when to do it, and some real-life examples.🔎 

• What is descriptive research?

Descriptive research is a type of research where researchers try to “describe” the characteristics of the problem, phenomenon, or subject. 

The researcher studies the details and background information related to the subject. Therefore, this research type deals with the questions of what, when, and where and try to find answers to these questions.

However, it is important to keep in mind that this research type does not try to explore the cause-and-effect relationship of the aspects. So, this research type does not deal with questions of why and how. 

• When to use descriptive research?

A researcher can use descriptive research for numerous reasons. As with all the research types, the researcher should want to answer some questions. In this method, the questions are basically, “ What are the elements that contribute to this phenomenon?” But let us make a list of reasons that may play a role in the researcher's mind. The researcher chooses to conduct descriptive research when he/she:

• Wants to understand a concept better than before. (This research method brings forward the hidden details and gives them a systematic form)
• Wishes to describe relationships between different concepts.
• Wants to explore patterns and trends.
• Wants to get into the core of the information for future studies. 
• Decides to compare data from numerous sources.
• Wishes to explore the best approach for future studies.
• Characteristics of descriptive research

Descriptive research is characterized by several key features, and these aspects differentiate it from other research types. Now, let us see a list of the main characteristics of descriptive research:

• It answers W questions. Meaning what, when, who, and where. They give concrete answers that are useful for the whole study.
• It gives qualitative and quantitative results . The results of descriptive research can be both numerical and open-ended.
• Makes way for future research . The results collected via descriptive research make a good start for future studies. The researcher can simply take what is on hand and build on it.
• It is conducted in natural settings . As natural observation and surveying are two of the great methods of descriptive research, they provide unbiased information. Let us say you want to test the accessibility and effectiveness of children's playgrounds; you can observe daily and survey the parents, etc.
• It can be used in many areas. From marketing, medicine, and education to psychology, the results of descriptive research can be used in any field.
• Descriptive research methods

Descriptive research methodologies

In order to conduct descriptive research, the researchers can use one of the methods below or make a mix of all three. It depends on the researchers and the research problems. Now let us see the three descriptive research methods:

1. Observations

One of the best ways to collect real-life, accurate, and honest information about human behavior is through observations. The observational method is an essential part of descriptive research. There is no outside intervention to observations. However, the researcher can be part of the observation as an observer, participant as an observer, or a full participant.

2. Case study

A case study study is done by gathering a group of individuals as a sample group. The characteristics, details, and choices of this sample group are used to have a generalized idea to represent a bigger population. This generalization from a case study is actually risky as the data collected can be insufficient to make accurate predictions about larger groups.

3. Survey research

Surveys are where the researcher asks pre-determined questions to participants to collect information from them. The questions can be close-ended questions or open-ended questions where the answers are more free. 

The survey can be done face-to-face, or it can be done online using a smart survey maker , such as forms.app. forms.app has more than 4000 ready-to-use templates, and it is free of charge.

• Real-life examples of descriptive research

The study type of descriptive research can be used in many areas, including psychology, medicine, marketing, business, and education. It mostly depends on your objective. However, it is almost always smart to start with descriptive research. Now, here are some descriptive research examples:

Descriptive research example #1

A school branch that wants to open a daycare in the district can look at the demographics in the area. They can make a list of the number of families with kids ages 1-6 and the percentages of working mothers. If there are other competitors, they can make informed analyses about them as well. After all this studying of the region, the school branch can make an informed decision about whether or not to open a daycare in the area.

Descriptive research example #2

A restaurant owner wants to figure out what areas need to be improved and what kind of problems the visitors face daily. In order to collect detailed and systematic data about the subject, it is smart to use a survey, such as a customer satisfaction survey or a feedback survey . The survey can help identify specific areas that need improvements, such as food quality, service speed, or cleanliness concerns. The main focus of the study is obtaining customer feedback without manipulating variables.

• Frequently asked questions about descriptive research

This research type has some similarities and differences with other research types and we have gathered some frequently asked questions about the subject. Let us see them:

What is the difference between descriptive and analytical research?

The methods used in descriptive research are surveys and observation. For analytical research, the researcher has to use facts already available and analyze them to make a critical evaluation.

What is the difference between qualitative and descriptive studies?

Descriptive research is usually described as quantitative research. The researcher doing a descriptive study defines the existing facts through observations and surveys. On the other hand, qualitative research aims to explore and answer the underlying meaning and context of subjects.

Can a study be both analytical and descriptive?

Yes, a study can be both analytical and descriptive. Researchers often use mixed methods to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of a concept. For example, particular research tries to analyze the characteristics of the youth population in a certain area (descriptive) and then examine how these characteristics are associated with alcohol abuse in the area (analytical).

What is the goal of descriptive research?

The aim of descriptive research is to accurately and systematically obtain information to summarize events, subjects, and concepts. The data collected using types of descriptive research methods can be used to describe the characteristics, patterns, and relationships within a specific context.

Why is descriptive research used in research?

Descriptive research is used to provide a detailed understanding of the elements of a specific subject, area, or concept in research. The findings of descriptive research work as a foundation for further investigations, hypothesis testing, and decision-making.

• Key points to take away

A descriptive research method is an important step when starting a research project. The result of such data can give detailed information on the population or the area of the subject. After all, knowing what you are working with is a crucial element. Therefore, as descriptive research is a good start to a study, it also opens the doors for future projects. Here are some key elements to take away about descriptive research:

• Descriptive research does not explore cause-and-effect relations but rather answers the questions of what, who, and when.
• It is used to define details and explore patterns.
• Gives both qualitative and quantitative results.
• The methods that can be used when doing descriptive research are case studies, observations, and surveys.
• Gives a good foundation for future research.

In conclusion, descriptive research is about being able to make an analysis that answers qualitative and quantitative questions. In this article, we mentioned when to use this research type, its characteristics, research methods, examples, and frequently asked questions. For so much more and all your research needs, visit forms.app today!

Defne is a content writer at forms.app. She is also a translator specializing in literary translation. Defne loves reading, writing, and translating professionally and as a hobby. Her expertise lies in survey research, research methodologies, content writing, and translation.

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Descriptive Analysis: What It Is + Best Research Tips

Leading statistical analysis usually begins with a descriptive analysis. It is also known as descriptive analytics or descriptive statistics. It helps you think about how to utilize your data, help you identify exceptions and mistakes, and see how variables are related, putting you in a position to lead future statistical research.

Keeping raw data in a format that makes it easy to understand and analyze, i.e., rearranging, sorting, and changing data so that it can tell you something useful about the data it contains.

Descriptive analysis is one of the most crucial phases of statistical data analysis. It provides you with a conclusion about the distribution of your data and aids in detecting errors and outliers. It lets you spot patterns between variables, preparing you for future statistical analysis.

In this blog, we will discuss descriptive analysis and the best tips for researchers.

What is Descriptive Analysis?

Descriptive analysis is a sort of data research that aids in describing, demonstrating, or helpfully summarizing data points so those patterns may develop that satisfy all of the conditions of the data.

It is the technique of identifying patterns and links by utilizing recent and historical data. Because it identifies patterns and associations without going any further, it is frequently referred to as the most basic data analysis .

When describing change over time, this analysis is beneficial. It utilizes patterns as a jumping-off point for further research to inform decision-making. When done systematically, they are not tricky or tiresome.

Data aggregation and mining are two methods used in descriptive analysis to generate historical data. Information is gathered and sorted in data aggregation to simplify large datasets. Data mining is the next analytical stage, which entails searching the data for patterns and significance. Data analytics and data analysis are closely related processes that involve extracting insights from data to make informed decisions.

Types of Descriptive Analysis

A variety of empirical methodologies support practical descriptive analyses. The most popular descriptive work tools are simple statistics representing core trends and variations (such as means, medians, and modes), which may be highly useful for explaining data.

It is the responsibility of the descriptive researcher to condense the body of data into a form that the audience will find helpful. This data reduction does not mean a situation or phenomenon should be equally weighted in all its components.

Instead, it concentrates on the most critical aspects of the phenomenon as it is and, more generally, the context of real-world practice in which a research study is to be read. The four types of descriptive analysis methods are:

01. Measurements of Frequency

Understanding how often a particular event or reaction is likely to occur is crucial for descriptive analysis. The main goal of frequency measurements is to provide something like a count or a percentage.

02. Measures of Central Tendency

Finding the central (or average) tendency or response is crucial in descriptive analysis. Three standards—mean, median, and mode—are used to calculate central tendency.

03. Measures of Dispersion

At times, understanding how data is distributed throughout a range is crucial. This kind of distribution may be measured using dispersion metrics like range or standard deviation.

04. Measures of Position

Finding a value’s or response’s location concerning other matters is another aspect of descriptive analysis. In this area of knowledge, metrics like quartiles and percentiles are beneficial.

How to Conduct a Descriptive Analysis?

Descriptive analysis is an important phase in data exploration that involves summarizing and describing the primary properties of a dataset. It provides vital insights into the data’s frequency distribution, central tendency, dispersion, and identifying position. It assists researchers and analysts in better understanding their data.

Conducting a descriptive analysis entails several critical phases, which we will discuss below.

Step 1: Data Collection

Before conducting any analysis, you must first collect relevant data. This process involves identifying data sources, selecting appropriate data-collecting methods, and verifying that the data acquired accurately represents the population or topic of interest.

You can collect data through surveys, experiments, observations, existing databases, or other data collection methods .

Step 2: Data Preparation

Data preparation is crucial for ensuring the dataset is clean, consistent, and ready for analysis. This step covers the following tasks:

• Data Cleaning: Handle missing values, exceptions, and errors in the dataset. Input missing values or develop appropriate statistical techniques for dealing with them.
• Data Transformation: Convert data into an appropriate format. Examples of this are changing data types, encoding categorical variables, or scaling numerical variables.
• Data Reduction: For large datasets, try reducing their size by sampling or aggregation to make the analysis more manageable.

Step 3: Apply Methods

In this step, you will analyze and describe the data using a variety of methodologies and procedures. The following are some common descriptive analysis methods:

• Frequency Distribution Analysis: Create frequency tables or bar charts to show the number or proportion of occurrences for each category for categorical variables.
• Measures of Central Tendency: Calculate numerical variables’ mean, median, and mode to determine the center or usual value.
• Measures of Dispersion: Calculate the range, variance, and standard deviation to examine the dispersion or variability of the data.
• Measures of Position: Identify the position of a single value or its response to others.

Identify which variables are important to your descriptive analysis and research questions. Various methods are used for numerical and categorical variables, so it is essential to distinguish between them.

• After the data set has been analyzed, researchers may interpret the findings in light of the goals. The analysis was successful if the conclusions were what was anticipated. Otherwise, they must search for weaknesses in their strategy and repeat these processes to get better outcomes.

Step 4: Summary Statistics and Visualization

Descriptive statistics refers to a set of methods for summarizing and describing the main characteristics of a dataset. Summarize the data through statistics and visualization. This step involves the following tasks:

• Summary Statistics: Summarize your findings clearly and concisely.
• Data Visualization: Use various charts and plots to visualize the data. Create histograms, box plots, scatter plots, or line charts for numerical data. Use bar charts, pie charts, or stacked bar charts for categorical data.

Best Research Tips to Complete Descriptive Analysis

Moreover, what researchers can do to complete descriptive analysis are:

• They must specify the purpose of the in-depth analysis , the goals, the direction they will take, the things they must overlook, and the format in which the data must be provided.
• They must gather data after identifying the goals. This is a critical phase since collecting incorrect data might lead them far from their objective.
• Cleaning up the data is the next stage. When working with massive data sets, data cleansing may become challenging. The working data set’s noise or irrelevant information might skew the findings. Researchers should clean the data following the specifications for reliable results.
• Different descriptive techniques are used once the data has been cleaned. In the form of in-depth descriptive summaries, the descriptive analysis highlights the fundamental characteristics of the data.
• When you’re presenting your analysis to non-technical stakeholders and teams, it might be challenging to communicate the findings. Data visualization helps to complete this task efficiently. To give the results, researchers might use a variety of data visualization approaches, such as charts, pie charts, graphs, and others.

Descriptive analysis is a crucial research approach, regardless of whether the researcher wants to discover causal relationships between variables, explain population patterns, or develop new metrics for basic phenomena. When used correctly, it may significantly contribute to various descriptive and causal research investigations.

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18 Descriptive Research Examples

Descriptive research involves gathering data to provide a detailed account or depiction of a phenomenon without manipulating variables or conducting experiments.

A scholarly definition is:

“Descriptive research is defined as a research approach that describes the characteristics of the population, sample or phenomenon studied. This method focuses more on the “what” rather than the “why” of the research subject.” (Matanda, 2022, p. 63)

The key feature of descriptive research is that it merely describes phenomena and does not attempt to manipulate variables nor determine cause and effect .

To determine cause and effect , a researcher would need to use an alternate methodology, such as experimental research design .

Common approaches to descriptive research include:

• Cross-sectional research : A cross-sectional study gathers data on a population at a specific time to get descriptive data that could include categories (e.g. age or income brackets) to get a better understanding of the makeup of a population.
• Longitudinal research : Longitudinal studies return to a population to collect data at several different points in time, allowing for description of changes in categories over time. However, as it’s descriptive, it cannot infer cause and effect (Erickson, 2017).

Methods that could be used include:

• Surveys: For example, sending out a census survey to be completed at the exact same date and time by everyone in a population.
• Case Study : For example, an in-depth description of a specific person or group of people to gain in-depth qualitative information that can describe a phenomenon but cannot be generalized to other cases.
• Observational Method : For example, a researcher taking field notes in an ethnographic study. (Siedlecki, 2020)

Descriptive Research Examples

1. Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder (Psychology): Researchers analyze various behavior patterns, cognitive skills, and social interaction abilities specific to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder to comprehensively describe the disorder’s symptom spectrum. This detailed description classifies it as descriptive research, rather than analytical or experimental, as it merely records what is observed without altering any variables or trying to establish causality.

2. Consumer Purchase Decision Process in E-commerce Marketplaces (Marketing): By documenting and describing all the factors that influence consumer decisions on online marketplaces, researchers don’t attempt to predict future behavior or establish causes—just describe observed behavior—making it descriptive research.

3. Impacts of Climate Change on Agricultural Practices (Environmental Studies): Descriptive research is seen as scientists outline how climate changes influence various agricultural practices by observing and then meticulously categorizing the impacts on crop variability, farming seasons, and pest infestations without manipulating any variables in real-time.

4. Work Environment and Employee Performance (Human Resources Management): A study of this nature, describing the correlation between various workplace elements and employee performance, falls under descriptive research as it merely narrates the observed patterns without altering any conditions or testing hypotheses.

5. Factors Influencing Student Performance (Education): Researchers describe various factors affecting students’ academic performance, such as studying techniques, parental involvement, and peer influence. The study is categorized as descriptive research because its principal aim is to depict facts as they stand without trying to infer causal relationships.

6. Technological Advances in Healthcare (Healthcare): This research describes and categorizes different technological advances (such as telemedicine, AI-enabled tools, digital collaboration) in healthcare without testing or modifying any parameters, making it an example of descriptive research.

7. Urbanization and Biodiversity Loss (Ecology): By describing the impact of rapid urban expansion on biodiversity loss, this study serves as a descriptive research example. It observes the ongoing situation without manipulating it, offering a comprehensive depiction of the existing scenario rather than investigating the cause-effect relationship.

8. Architectural Styles across Centuries (Art History): A study documenting and describing various architectural styles throughout centuries essentially represents descriptive research. It aims to narrate and categorize facts without exploring the underlying reasons or predicting future trends.

9. Media Usage Patterns among Teenagers (Sociology): When researchers document and describe the media consumption habits among teenagers, they are performing a descriptive research study. Their main intention is to observe and report the prevailing trends rather than establish causes or predict future behaviors.

10. Dietary Habits and Lifestyle Diseases (Nutrition Science): By describing the dietary patterns of different population groups and correlating them with the prevalence of lifestyle diseases, researchers perform descriptive research. They merely describe observed connections without altering any diet plans or lifestyles.

11. Shifts in Global Energy Consumption (Environmental Economics): When researchers describe the global patterns of energy consumption and how they’ve shifted over the years, they conduct descriptive research. The focus is on recording and portraying the current state without attempting to infer causes or predict the future.

12. Literacy and Employment Rates in Rural Areas (Sociology): A study aims at describing the literacy rates in rural areas and correlating it with employment levels. It falls under descriptive research because it maps the scenario without manipulating parameters or proving a hypothesis.

13. Women Representation in Tech Industry (Gender Studies): A detailed description of the presence and roles of women across various sectors of the tech industry is a typical case of descriptive research. It merely observes and records the status quo without establishing causality or making predictions.

14. Impact of Urban Green Spaces on Mental Health (Environmental Psychology): When researchers document and describe the influence of green urban spaces on residents’ mental health, they are undertaking descriptive research. They seek purely to understand the current state rather than exploring cause-effect relationships.

15. Trends in Smartphone usage among Elderly (Gerontology): Research describing how the elderly population utilizes smartphones, including popular features and challenges encountered, serves as descriptive research. Researcher’s aim is merely to capture what is happening without manipulating variables or posing predictions.

16. Shifts in Voter Preferences (Political Science): A study describing the shift in voter preferences during a particular electoral cycle is descriptive research. It simply records the preferences revealed without drawing causal inferences or suggesting future voting patterns.

17. Understanding Trust in Autonomous Vehicles (Transportation Psychology): This comprises research describing public attitudes and trust levels when it comes to autonomous vehicles. By merely depicting observed sentiments, without engineering any situations or offering predictions, it’s considered descriptive research.

18. The Impact of Social Media on Body Image (Psychology): Descriptive research to outline the experiences and perceptions of individuals relating to body image in the era of social media. Observing these elements without altering any variables qualifies it as descriptive research.

Descriptive vs Experimental Research

Descriptive research merely observes, records, and presents the actual state of affairs without manipulating any variables, while experimental research involves deliberately changing one or more variables to determine their effect on a particular outcome.

De Vaus (2001) succinctly explains that descriptive studies find out what is going on , but experimental research finds out why it’s going on /

Simple definitions are below:

• Descriptive research is primarily about describing the characteristics or behaviors in a population, often through surveys or observational methods. It provides rich detail about a specific phenomenon but does not allow for conclusive causal statements; however, it can offer essential leads or ideas for further experimental research (Ivey, 2016).
• Experimental research , often conducted in controlled environments, aims to establish causal relationships by manipulating one or more independent variables and observing the effects on dependent variables (Devi, 2017; Mukherjee, 2019).

Experimental designs often involve a control group and random assignment . While it can provide compelling evidence for cause and effect, its artificial setting might not perfectly mirror real-worldly conditions, potentially affecting the generalizability of its findings.

These two types of research are complementary, with descriptive studies often leading to hypotheses that are then tested experimentally (Devi, 2017; Zhao et al., 2021).

Benefits and Limitations of Descriptive Research

Descriptive research offers several benefits: it allows researchers to gather a vast amount of data and present a complete picture of the situation or phenomenon under study, even within large groups or over long time periods.

It’s also flexible in terms of the variety of methods used, such as surveys, observations, and case studies, and it can be instrumental in identifying patterns or trends and generating hypotheses (Erickson, 2017).

However, it also has its limitations.

The primary drawback is that it can’t establish cause-effect relationships, as no variables are manipulated. This lack of control over variables also opens up possibilities for bias, as researchers might inadvertently influence responses during data collection (De Vaus, 2001).

Additionally, the findings of descriptive research are often not generalizable since they are heavily reliant on the chosen sample’s characteristics.

See More Types of Research Design Here

De Vaus, D. A. (2001). Research Design in Social Research . SAGE Publications.

Devi, P. S. (2017). Research Methodology: A Handbook for Beginners . Notion Press.

Erickson, G. S. (2017). Descriptive research design. In  New Methods of Market Research and Analysis  (pp. 51-77). Edward Elgar Publishing.

Gresham, B. B. (2016). Concepts of Evidence-based Practice for the Physical Therapist Assistant . F.A. Davis Company.

Ivey, J. (2016). Is descriptive research worth doing?.  Pediatric nursing ,  42 (4), 189. ( Source )

Krishnaswamy, K. N., Sivakumar, A. I., & Mathirajan, M. (2009). Management Research Methodology: Integration of Principles, Methods and Techniques . Pearson Education.

Matanda, E. (2022). Research Methods and Statistics for Cross-Cutting Research: Handbook for Multidisciplinary Research . Langaa RPCIG.

Monsen, E. R., & Van Horn, L. (2007). Research: Successful Approaches . American Dietetic Association.

Mukherjee, S. P. (2019). A Guide to Research Methodology: An Overview of Research Problems, Tasks and Methods . CRC Press.

Siedlecki, S. L. (2020). Understanding descriptive research designs and methods.  Clinical Nurse Specialist ,  34 (1), 8-12. ( Source )

Zhao, P., Ross, K., Li, P., & Dennis, B. (2021). Making Sense of Social Research Methodology: A Student and Practitioner Centered Approach . SAGE Publications.

Dave Cornell (PhD)

Dr. Cornell has worked in education for more than 20 years. His work has involved designing teacher certification for Trinity College in London and in-service training for state governments in the United States. He has trained kindergarten teachers in 8 countries and helped businessmen and women open baby centers and kindergartens in 3 countries.

• Dave Cornell (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/dave-cornell-phd/ 25 Positive Punishment Examples
• Dave Cornell (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/dave-cornell-phd/ 25 Dissociation Examples (Psychology)
• Dave Cornell (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/dave-cornell-phd/ 15 Zone of Proximal Development Examples
• Dave Cornell (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/dave-cornell-phd/ Perception Checking: 15 Examples and Definition

Chris Drew (PhD)

This article was peer-reviewed and edited by Chris Drew (PhD). The review process on Helpful Professor involves having a PhD level expert fact check, edit, and contribute to articles. Reviewers ensure all content reflects expert academic consensus and is backed up with reference to academic studies. Dr. Drew has published over 20 academic articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education and holds a PhD in Education from ACU.

• Chris Drew (PhD) #molongui-disabled-link 25 Positive Punishment Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) #molongui-disabled-link 25 Dissociation Examples (Psychology)
• Chris Drew (PhD) #molongui-disabled-link 15 Zone of Proximal Development Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) #molongui-disabled-link Perception Checking: 15 Examples and Definition

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Descriptive Research: Methods, Types, and Examples | PPT

In order to understand what descriptive research is, one must first understand the different types of research methods. Descriptive research can be defined as a method used to describe something, usually in great detail. This type of research is often used in the sciences, such as in biology or psychology.

It can also be used in other fields, such as marketing or sociology. There are many different ways to collect data for descriptive research, lets take a look on examples, methods, types, pros and cons of Descriptive Research in this article.

• Table of Contents

What is Descriptive Research?

Descriptive research is a type of research that is used to describe a population or phenomenon. This type of research is often used in the social sciences, but can be used in other disciplines as well.

Descriptive research is often used to provide a snapshot of a population or phenomenon. It can also be used to answer questions about how something works or why something happens.

When doing a descriptive study, the researcher thoroughly details the circumstance or case in their research materials. This kind of research design is entirely theoretical, and the researcher gathers data, analyses it, prepares it, and then clearly displays it. It is the type of study design that is the most inclusive.

Descriptive research can be either quantitative or qualitative in nature.

Quantitative descriptive research

Quantitative descriptive research involves collecting data that can be quantified, such as age, gender, income levels, etc. This type of data is typically collected through surveys or other means of data collection.

Qualitative descriptive research

Qualitative descriptive research involves collecting data that cannot be quantified, such as opinions, beliefs, attitudes, etc. This type of data is typically collected through interviews or focus groups.

Examples of Descriptive Research

• How the real estate market in London has transformed in the last 20 years ?
• Which product C or D are clients of firm A most interested in ?
• What distinguishes hybrid cows from Indian wild cows in terms of genetics, behavior, and morphology ?
• How common is illness 1 in population Z ?

Characteristics of Descriptive Research

There are many different characteristics of descriptive research, which include:

Quantitative in Nature

In descriptive research, data is systematically and quantitatively collected so that the research problem may be statistically analyzed. It does not involve the manipulation of variables. This type of research is typically quantitative, meaning that it uses numerical data to describe the population or phenomenon.

Observational

Descriptive research is observational in that it simply observes and records what is happening. It does not try to explain why something is happening or to manipulate variables.

Uncontrolled Variables

Descriptive research differs from experimental research in that the variables are not managed or controlled. This is one of its most salient features. Instead, they are only recognized, scrutinized, and measured. It does not involve the manipulation of variables. This means that researchers cannot control what happens during the course of the study.

Basis for Further Research

The data gathered during descriptive research serves as a foundation for subsequent study since it aids in gaining a thorough grasp of the research topic in order to properly respond to it.

Cross-sectional Studies

Cross-sectional studies are typically used to do descriptive research. An observational study method known as a cross-sectional study involves obtaining data on various variables at the person level at a specific period.

Pros of Descriptive Research

Comprehensive.

Descriptive research frequently combines quantitative and qualitative methods, giving the research topic a more detailed knowledge.

Various Data Collection Techniques

The case study method, observational method, and survey method are just a few of the many data collection techniques that can be utilized in descriptive research. Quick and economical.

High External Validity

As research is conducted in the respondent’s natural context with no variables being altered, results generated using the descriptive method of research frequently have high levels of external validity.

Quick and Inexpensive

Since surveys are frequently used in descriptive research, it is possible to quickly, cost efficiently and efficiently collect data from a fairly large sample size.

Cons of Descriptive Research

Unable to validate or test research question.

Due to the fact that the data acquired does not assist in elucidating the reason of the phenomenon being examined, the descriptive technique of research cannot be utilized to test or validate the research problem.

Risk of Sampling Error

When choosing a sample group for a descriptive research study, random sampling is typically used. If the sample group isn’t representative of the larger population, chance may cause sampling error. Results from sampling mistake would be unreliable and unreliable.

Absence of Dependability

The data gathered could not be completely reliable if the research problem isn’t well-formulated. Additionally, this makes conducting a reliable investigation more difficult.

Possibility of False Responses

People’s reactions are crucial to descriptive research, especially when employing surveys. False responses may occasionally be given, which would undermine the reliability of the data gathered and, ultimately, the research’s conclusions.

Pros and Cons of Descriptive Research

Why to use descriptive research, comparing variables.

Descriptive research can be used to compare various variables and the responses of various demographics to various variables.

Validate the Current Conditions

Given that it requires a thorough investigation of each variable before drawing conclusions, descriptive research can be an effective method for determining the validity of an actual condition.

Analysis of Data Trends

The descriptive research approach can be used to track changes in variables over time, enabling the discovery and analysis of trends.

Describe the Features of the Subjects

Additionally, it can be utilized to identify the various traits of the participants. This can include qualities, attitudes, behaviors, and other attributes.

Methods of Descriptive Research

Descriptive research can be qualitative or quantitative in nature, and the researcher may choose to use one or both methods in order to best answer their research question(s). There are many different methods that can be used in descriptive research, and the type of method used will often depend on the type of data being collected.

There are three key methods used to carry out descriptive research.

Observations

 Questionnaires or polls are used in survey research to get information from respondents on a particular subject. Since both have advantages, surveys should contain a mix of closed- and open-ended items. Because they may be conducted using a variety of digital and non-digital means, including email, websites, and phone surveys, surveys are a cost-effective technique of data collection.

The case study method entails conducting extensive research on specific people or groups of people. Instead of acquiring a wide volume of data to find correlations and trends, case studies include gathering precise data on a specifically defined subject. Therefore, rather of describing facts that can be generalized, this method is frequently used to describe the various traits of a particular subject.

Researchers can develop hypotheses through case studies that can broaden the scope of evaluation when researching the phenomenon.

With this approach, researchers keep a distance from the subjects they are studying and observe them in their natural environment. This enables them to acquire data on the behaviors and traits under investigation without having to rely on respondents to provide truthful and precise answers.

The observational approach is thought to be the best one for conducting descriptive research. Both qualitative and quantitative data must be gathered.

In conclusion, Descriptive Research is a type of research used to observe and describe phenomena. It is useful in providing detailed information about a specific event, behavior, or group. Although it cannot be used to draw causal relationships, it can be helpful in generating hypotheses for further research.

When deciding whether or not to use Descriptive Research, researchers should consider the pros and cons, as well as the specific research question they are trying to answer.

Other articles

Please read through some of our other articles with examples and explanations if you’d like to learn more about research methodology.

• PLS-SEM model
• Principal Components Analysis
• Multivariate Analysis
• Friedman Test
• Chi-Square Test (Χ²)
• Effect Size

 Methodology

• Research Methods
• Quantitative Research
• Qualitative Research
• Case Study Research
• Survey Research
• Conclusive Research
• Descriptive Research
• Cross-Sectional Research
• Theoretical Framework
• Conceptual Framework
• Triangulation
• Grounded Theory
• Quasi-Experimental Design
• Mixed Method
• Correlational Research
• Randomized Controlled Trial
• Stratified Sampling
• Ethnography
• Ghost Authorship
• Secondary Data Collection
• Primary Data Collection
• Ex-Post-Facto
•   Dissertation Topic
• Thesis Statement
• Research Proposal
• Research Questions
• Research Problem
• Research Gap
• Types of Research Gaps
• Operationalization of Variables
• Literature Review
• Research Hypothesis
• Questionnaire
• Reliability
• Measurement of Scale
• Sampling Techniques
• Acknowledgements

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Descriptive Research: 3 Advantages and Disadvantages

When it comes to research, the more descriptive the better. Descriptive research is a technique that can be used to get more information about what you want to know about without actually having to conduct an experiment or a survey.

Find out the positive and negative aspects of this process and how descriptive research can help solve some of your concerns in this article!

What is Descriptive Research?

The advantages of descriptive research, the disadvantages of descriptive research.

Descriptive research is a type of research that focuses on describing the characteristics of a population or sample. This type of research can be used to study a variety of topics, including marketing, health, and social sciences.

One advantage of descriptive research is that it can be relatively quick and easy to carry out. This type of research doesn’t require any special equipment or access to complex databases. In addition, descriptive research can help to understand the data more clearly.

However, descriptive research has some limitations. One problem is that it can be difficult to generalize your findings from the data. Another limitation is that it doesn’t allow you to test hypotheses.

It can take a lot of time to collect the data for descriptive research. If you don’t have enough patience, you might find that your limited resources will be used up before you can complete your study. However, this type of research is an excellent way to learn about your customers and how they use the product or service that they are trying to sell.

Descriptive research has many advantages over other research methods. These advantages include the ability to collect data from a large number of participants, the ability to explore different aspects of a topic, and the ability to understand complex topics.

• One of the main advantages of descriptive research is that it is able to collect data from a large number of participants. This can be helpful in understanding complex topics. This makes it an important tool for researchers who want to understand complicated issues.
• Another advantage of descriptive research is that it can explore different aspects of a topic. This can be helpful in understanding how people use products or how people feel about a particular situation. For example, descriptive research could explore how people use a product in different ways or how people feel about a situation after hearing about it.
• Finally, descriptive research is that it is usually cheaper, easier and quicker to carry out than other methods of research. It also increases the reliability of results, as participants are less likely to lie or select inappropriate answers.

The strengths of descriptive research are that it can ask a large number of participants about a topic. The researcher only needs to contact people who might be interested in the topic and ask them questions about it. This means especially that qualitative researchers can gather information from a large number of participants, if they have an interest in the topic.

Though, descriptive research has quite great advantages, however, it is often criticized for its disadvantages.

Here, are some of the disadvantages of Descriptive research:

• One of the main disadvantages is that it can be difficult to design a study that is relevant to the researcher’s specific interests. This can make it difficult to get accurate information from participants.
• Another disadvantage of descriptive research is that it can be difficult to generalize the findings from the study. The results of the study may not apply to all people or situations. Additionally, descriptive research does not allow for any conclusions to be drawn about cause and effect.
• The main weakness of descriptive research is that there is no control group. It cannot tell us whether one treatment works better than another. Instead, it must rely on the subjective opinions of the participant or participants in the study, which can make it more difficult for researchers to draw conclusions about why certain treatments work better than others.

In Descriptive research, studies that focus on people’s perceptions about a particular topic may not provide useful information on how the general population feels about it. This can be especially important for policy makers who must decide which views should be taken into consideration when making decisions about certain subjects or issues.

Descriptive research is a type of research that is used to describe and understand phenomena. It is often used to gather information about a particular topic, such as how people use products or how people feel about a certain issue.

There are several advantages to conducting descriptive research. First, it is relatively inexpensive to do. Second, it can help you gather a lot of data quickly. Third, it can provide you with a detailed understanding of the phenomena being studied.

However, there are also some disadvantages to conducting descriptive research. First, it can be difficult to generalize the findings from the study. Second, it may not provide you with accurate information about the target population.

Overall, descriptive research is useful for understanding the characteristics of a population or sample. It has limitations, but these limitations are mostly minor.

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Conclusive Research

Conclusive research design, as the name implies, is applied to generate findings that are practically useful in reaching conclusions or decision-making. In this type of studies research objectives and data requirements need to be clearly defined. Findings of conclusive studies usually have specific uses. Conclusive research design provides a way to verify and quantify findings of exploratory studies .

Conclusive research design usually involves the application of quantitative methods of data collection and data analysis. Moreover, conclusive studies tend to be deductive in nature and research objectives in these types of studies are achieved via testing hypotheses.

The table below illustrates the main differences between conclusive and exploratory research design:

 Main differences between conclusive and exploratory research design

It has to be noted that “conclusive research is more likely to use statistical tests, advanced analytical techniques, and larger sample sizes, compared with exploratory studies. Conclusive research is more likely to use quantitative, rather than qualitative techniques” [1] . Conclusive research is helpful in providing a reliable or representative picture of the population through the application of valid research instrument.

Conclusive research design can be divided into two categories:  descriptive research  and causal research .

Descriptive research is used to describe some functions or characteristics of phenomenon and can be further divided into the following groups:

• Case study ;
• Case series study;
• Cross-sectional study;
• Longitudinal study;
• Retrospective study.

Causal research, on the other hand, is used to research cause and affect relationships. Two popular research methods for causal studies are experimental and quasi-experimental studies.

My e-book,  The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dissertation in Business Studies: a step by step assistance  contains discussions of theory and application of research designs. The e-book also explains all stages of the  research process  starting from the  selection of the research area  to writing personal reflection. Important elements of dissertations such as  research philosophy ,  research approach ,  methods of data collection ,  data analysis  and  sampling  are explained in this e-book in simple words.

John Dudovskiy

[1] Nargundkar, R. (2008) “Marketing Research: Text and Cases”, Tata McGraw-Hill Educational, p.39

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Types of Legal Research

Legal research is like detectives’ work for lawyers. They search for information about laws, court cases, and legal rules to find answers to their questions. This helps them understand the law better, solve legal problems, and make strong arguments in court. Lawyers need to do this research so they can give good advice to their clients and write legal papers correctly.

Table of Content

1. Descriptive Legal Research

2. quantitative legal research, 3. qualitative legal research, 4. analytical legal research, types of legal research- faqs.

Descriptive legal research is about summarizing legal concepts, laws, or court cases without going into deep analysis. It’s like providing an overview of legal topics, explaining them clearly without getting too detailed. This type of research helps in understanding the basics of legal issues, setting the stage for more in-depth exploration. Instead of dissecting legal principles, descriptive research straightforwardly presents them, making it easier for readers to grasp complex legal ideas without getting overwhelmed by complexity.

For example, if a law student provides a summary of a Supreme Court decision, it’s descriptive legal research

Features of Descriptive Legal Research:

• Descriptive legal research condenses intricate legal concepts, statutes, or case law into straightforward summaries, making them understandable for non-experts.
• This type of research prioritizes clarity by simplifying legal language and removing unnecessary jargon, ensuring that the information is easily accessible to a wide audience.
• Descriptive legal research aims to present legal information objectively, without introducing personal opinions or biases, allowing readers to form their own interpretations.

Advantages of Descriptive Legal Research:

• Descriptive legal research makes legal concepts accessible to individuals without formal legal training, such as clients, policymakers, or the general public, facilitating a better understanding of legal issues.
• It provides a foundational understanding of legal topics, acting as a starting point for further exploration or analysis, aiding individuals in quickly grasping key concepts.
• Descriptive legal research is a time-efficient method for obtaining basic legal information, saving individuals from diving into lengthy legal texts or conducting extensive analyses.

Disadvantages of Descriptive Legal Research:

• Descriptive legal research may lack depth, offering only a surface-level understanding of legal topics without providing thorough analysis or insights.
• It often presents legal information in isolation, without providing broader contextualization or analysis of how legal principles apply in specific situations or contexts.
• Simplifying complex legal concepts for accessibility purposes can sometimes result in oversimplification, potentially overlooking important nuances or exceptions and leading to misunderstandings.

Quantitative legal research involves analyzing numerical data related to legal matters. By using statistical methods, they identify correlations and trends within legal data, providing objective insights into legal issues. This method offers a systematic approach to understanding the empirical aspects of the law, contributing valuable insights to the legal field.

For example, An example of quantitative legal research is studying court records to analyze sentencing trends based on demographic factors like race or gender.

Features of Quantitative Legal Research:

• Quantitative legal research involves measuring and analyzing legal phenomena using numerical data. Researchers collect quantitative data like case counts or court decisions to study patterns within the legal system.
• This research relies on statistical methods such as regression analysis or hypothesis testing to analyze legal data and identify relationships or trends.
• Quantitative legal research emphasizes objectivity in data collection and analysis, relying on empirical evidence rather than subjective interpretation.

Advantages of Quantitative Legal Research:

• It offers an objective approach to studying legal issues, enhancing credibility by relying on empirical data rather than personal biases.
• By studying representative samples, researchers can make generalizations about legal phenomena, applying findings to broader contexts.
• Quantitative research can predict future legal outcomes based on historical data, informing decisions and projections.

Disadvantages of Quantitative Legal Research:

• Quantitative research may oversimplify complex legal issues, potentially overlooking qualitative aspects.
• Challenges in data availability and quality can affect the reliability and validity of research findings.
• While identifying correlations, establishing causality remains challenging, as other factors may influence outcomes.

Qualitative legal research dives deep into legal matters by closely examining non-numerical data. Researchers employ methods like interviews, observations, and textual analysis to gain in-depth insights into the thoughts, experiences, and perspectives of those involved in the legal system. This approach focuses on understanding the broader context surrounding legal issues and seeks to reveal the social, cultural, and psychological factors that shape legal processes and results.

For example, An example of qualitative legal research is interviewing individuals involved in a court case to understand their experiences and perspectives. Researchers analyze the interview data to uncover the social and psychological factors that influence legal outcomes.

Features of Qualitative Legal Research:

• Qualitative legal research involves thoroughly examining legal issues by exploring non-numerical data. Researchers aim to understand the underlying meanings, experiences, and perspectives of legal actors through detailed investigation.
• This method relies on qualitative data collection techniques such as interviews, observations, and textual analysis. Researchers gather rich and contextual data to gain insights into the social, cultural, and psychological factors influencing legal processes.
• Researchers analyze the social, political, and economic factors shaping legal phenomena, providing a holistic understanding of law’s complexities.

Advantages of Qualitative Legal Research:

• Qualitative legal research provides detailed insights by capturing diverse perspectives and experiences of legal actors.
• This method enables researchers to grasp legal issues within their broader socio-cultural and historical contexts, offering nuanced insights into law’s societal operations.
• Qualitative research methods offer adaptability in data collection and analysis. Researchers can tailor their approaches to research questions, exploring emerging themes in depth.

Disadvantages of Qualitative Legal Research:

• Qualitative research is subjective, involving interpretation of subjective data such as interviews. Researchers’ biases may influence analysis and findings, affecting research validity.
• Qualitative research demands significant time and resources due to detailed data collection and analysis. Conducting interviews, transcribing recordings, and analyzing qualitative data are labor-intensive tasks.
• Qualitative research findings may not easily generalize to broader contexts. Focusing on specific cases limits applicability to other settings or situations.

Analytical legal research means carefully looking at legal rules, laws, or court decisions to understand them better. It’s not just about describing them simply; it’s about figuring out why they exist, what they mean, and how they’re used. Researchers study legal arguments, find patterns or problems in the reasoning, and think about what it all means for the law. This helps make the law better over time.

For example, An example of analytical legal research is examining multiple court decisions on a particular legal issue to identify patterns or inconsistencies in judicial reasoning. Researchers critically assess legal arguments to gain insights into legal principles and their applications.

Features of Analytical Legal Research:

• Analytical legal research involves critically examining legal principles, statutes, or court decisions. Researchers delve deep into legal texts to understand underlying reasoning, identify inconsistencies, and uncover hidden implications.
• This method goes beyond surface-level description, focusing on detailed analysis of legal concepts. Researchers scrutinize legal arguments, dissecting them to uncover underlying assumptions.
• Analytical legal research involves synthesizing information from various legal sources to develop comprehensive insights into legal issues.

Advantages of Analytical Legal Research:

• Analytical legal research provides a sophisticated understanding of legal principles and concepts. By critically analyzing legal texts, researchers gain insights into the complexities of the law.
• This method offers a strategic advantage to legal practitioners and scholars by enabling them to anticipate potential legal challenges or counterarguments. By identifying weaknesses or gaps in legal arguments, researchers can develop more robust and persuasive legal strategies.
• Analytical legal research contributes to the development and evolution of legal principles and practices. By uncovering inconsistencies or gaps in legal reasoning, researchers highlight areas for reform or clarification, shaping the development of the law over time.

Disadvantages of Analytical Legal Research:

• Analytical legal research can be time-consuming due to the complex analysis required. Researchers must carefully examine legal texts, identify relevant sources, and synthesize complex information, which can be labor-intensive and time-consuming.
• The interpretation of legal texts in analytical legal research is inherently subjective. Researchers’ biases, perspectives, or interpretations may influence the analysis and conclusions, potentially leading to subjective or contested interpretations.
• Analytical legal research can be hard because legal reasoning and arguments are complicated. Researchers have to read complex legal documents and understand difficult language and detailed arguments. This can be tough, especially for new researchers.

In conclusion, legal research is crucial for navigating the intricacies of the law. Through various methods like descriptive, quantitative, qualitative, and analytical research, scholars and practitioners unravel legal complexities and inform decision-making. Each approach offers distinct advantages and challenges, enriching our understanding of legal matters. By embracing diverse research methodologies, legal professionals can develop informed strategies and contribute to the evolution of legal principles. This ensures fairness and justice in society, ultimately strengthening the rule of law.

What is legal research?

Legal research means looking up laws, rules, past court decisions, and legal principles to find answers to legal questions. It’s like detectives’ work for lawyers, helping them build strong cases, give good advice, and write legal papers.

Why is legal research important?

Legal research helps lawyers give the right advice, make strong arguments in court, and write legal papers correctly. It ensures that lawyers understand complex legal problems and keep the legal system fair and honest.

What are the different types of legal research?

There are different ways to do legal research. Some methods include summarizing legal ideas, studying numbers related to legal issues, exploring people’s experiences in the legal system, and deeply analyzing legal concepts.

How do I do legal research?

Legal research involves using legal databases, libraries, and online sources to find the right legal information. Researchers use keywords, laws, case names, or references to find what they need, and then they study and put together the information to answer legal questions.

What problems can I face when doing legal research?

Legal research can take a lot of time and can be hard because there’s so much legal information to go through. Also, it can be tricky to make sure the information you find is correct and reliable, as it can change depending on where you are or what the situation is.

Note: The information provided is sourced from various websites and collected data; if discrepancies are identified, kindly reach out to us through comments for prompt correction.

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