Descriptive vs Experimental Research
Descriptive research and experimental research are two distinct types of research, each with their own characteristics. Descriptive research refers to research that aims to describe a phenomenon or group under study, exploring different aspects of the group or phenomenon. On the other hand, experimental research involves the researcher manipulating variables to arrive at conclusions or discover findings. In this article, we will examine the differences between these two types of research in detail. First, let us begin with descriptive research.
What is Descriptive Research?
In descriptive research, the researcher attempts to understand the various characteristics of the study group or a phenomenon. To do so, the researcher can use several research methods such as surveys, interviews, observational methods, and case studies. Each method allows the researcher to gather different types of data, enhancing their understanding of the study group.
However, it is essential to note that descriptive research does not focus on causality. It merely enables the researcher to broaden their understanding of the population. Descriptive research can provide both qualitative and quantitative data. For example, through surveys, the researcher can collect statistically significant data, while interviews can provide rich qualitative data.
In descriptive research, the researcher’s primary focus is to describe the population by identifying its characteristics. However, experimental research is different from descriptive research. Now, let us move on to experimental research.
What is Experimental Research?
Experimental research is a type of research where variables are manipulated by the researcher to draw conclusions or discover findings. Unlike descriptive research, experimental research does not focus on describing the population; instead, the primary focus is on testing hypotheses. There are various types of experiments, including quasi-experiments, single-subject studies, and correlation studies.
Experimental research is used in both natural sciences and social sciences. However, since it involves manipulating variables, the researcher may encounter difficulties, especially in social sciences. This is because the validity of research findings is often questioned, as human behavior can change when individuals are aware they are being observed. This can affect research findings and lead to incorrect conclusions. This distinction highlights that descriptive research and experimental research are different from one another. Now let us summarize the differences as follows.
What is the difference between Descriptive and Experimental Research?
Definition of Descriptive Research and Experimental Research:
– Descriptive Research: Descriptive research refers to research that aims to describe a phenomenon or group under study.
– Experimental Research: Experimental research involves the researcher manipulating variables to draw conclusions or discover findings.
Characteristics of Descriptive Research and Experimental Research:
– Focus:
– Descriptive Research: Descriptive research describes the population by identifying its characteristics.
– Experimental Research: Testing hypotheses is the primary focus of experimental research.
– Causation:
– Descriptive Research: Descriptive research does not focus on causality.
– Experimental Research: Experimental research allows the researcher to identify causality.
– Outcome:
– Descriptive Research: Descriptive research answers the question “what.”
– Experimental Research: Experimental research answers the question “why.”
Key Takeaways
- Descriptive research aims to describe a phenomenon or group under study, while experimental research involves the researcher manipulating variables to draw conclusions or discover findings.
- Descriptive research does not focus on causality, while experimental research allows the researcher to identify causality.
- Descriptive research answers the question “what,” while experimental research answers the question “why.”
