Michael Williams 

Part I: Two Quantitative Approaches

The Basic Descriptive Research Approach

The basic descriptive research approach focuses on examining a single variable at a time without making statistical comparisons or establishing relationships. It summarizes and presents data using descriptive statistics such as averages, percentages, histograms, and frequency distributions. Unlike inferential statistics, which make inferences about a population based on a sample, descriptive statistics describe the sample. However, while most research studies include some descriptive questions, it’s rare for quantitative studies to be purely descriptive. Typically, multiple variables are examined, and their relationships are tested using inferential statistics, allowing for broader conclusions about the population. Some examples where only descriptive data is sought are political polls, consumer surveys, or exploratory studies of new topics. Qualitative or constructivist research may also predominantly rely on descriptive methods, describing a topic or phenomenon. (Gliner et al., 2016).