1. Descriptive Research :
Descriptive research refers to research which describes a phenomenon or else a group under study and it is easy to do in social sciences due to manipulating variables. It is mainly useful in gathering data on a certain population, situations and events. Descriptive research is more towards collecting data and try to find out some insight out of that data using statistical analysis.
Example of descriptive research includes population census and product marketing surveys etc.
2. Experimental Research :
Experimental research refers to research where the researcher manipulates the variable to come to an conclusion or finding and it is difficult to do in social sciences due to manipulating variables. It is useful in finding out the cause effect of a casual relationship and correlation. Experimental research is also do this same sort of analysis but also it always analyzes where the data of an experiment comes from.
Example of experimental research includes laboratory experiments.
Difference between Descriptive Research and Experimental Research :
| S.NO. | DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH | EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH |
|---|---|---|
| 01. | Descriptive research refers to research which describes a phenomenon or else a group under study. | Experimental research refers to research where the researcher manipulates the variable to come to an conclusion or finding. |
| 02. | Descriptive research is easy to do in social sciences due to manipulating variables. | Experimental research is difficult to do in social sciences due to manipulating variables. |
| 03. | It is useful in gathering data on a certain population, situations and events. | It is useful in finding out the cause effect of a casual relationship and correlation. |
| 04. | In descriptive research the researcher observe the things, situation or events and describes the best of it. | In experimental research the researcher researches the things mainly in closed environment or laboratory and results the best output of it. |
| 05. | Descriptive research cannot determine the causality of events and as such cannot make future predictions. | Experimental research accurately determines causality and therefore can make future predictions. |
| 06. | Mainly Descriptive research tries to answer the question “What is”. | Mainly Experimental research tries to answer the question “What if”. |
| 07. | Descriptive research typically includes sociological and psychological, political science studies. | Experimental research typically includes biological, forensic studies, other laboratory studies. |
| 08. | It uses both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. | It primarily uses quantitative methodology. |
| 09. | Descriptive research is more towards collecting data and try to find out some insight out of that data using statistical analysis. | Experimental research is also do this same sort of analysis but also it always analyzes where the data of an experiment comes from. |
