How is descriptive research defined?

Descriptive research is characterized primarily by its focus on depicting, detailing, and outlining the characteristics of a subject or phenomenon as it exists in its natural state. This type of research is conducted through careful observation and documentation, allowing researchers to gather detailed information without manipulating the environment or the variables involved. By relying on observation, descriptive research provides a comprehensive snapshot that can serve as a foundation for further investigation or analysis.

The other choices relate to different types of research methods: modifying events pertains to experimental or intervention research where variables are actively changed; predicting future outcomes is more aligned with correlational or causal-comparative research; and controlled variables are typically a feature of experimental research, where the researcher manipulates one or more variables while holding others constant. Each of these approaches has distinct aims and methodologies that differentiate them from the observational nature of descriptive research.