Which of the following research projects should NOT be considered descriptive research?
A) Dr. Smith studied the causes of bullying in schools and how bullying was related to substance use.
B) Erica, a graduate student, studied the most common types of crimes committed in schools.
C) Brad, a research assistant, studied how many youth are arrested for violent crimes each year.
D) A government agency examined the percentage of youth that are victims of violence.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Descriptive research aims to describe characteristics of a population or phenomenon being studied. It does not answer questions about how/when/why the characteristics occurred. Dr. Smith's study on the causes of bullying and its relation to substance use goes beyond description to explore causality, making it not purely descriptive.

Which of the Following Research Projects Should NOT Be Considered