Descriptive, Historical, Correctional, and Experimental Research Methods - Essay Example

The paper "Descriptive, Historical, Correctional, and Experimental Research Methods" is an outstanding example of an essay on statistics.
Descriptive Research
This method of research explains what already exists in a group by describing categories of qualitative information or may involve collecting quantitative information. Descriptive research uses “what is” approach and it intensely involves the use of description as a device in organizing data into patterns emerging during analysis and usually uses diagrams such as charts to help the reader. This type of research can cover a wide geographical area. Descriptive research method may be successfully used to identify the relationship between two variables, revealing summary statistics and always help in recognizing alteration needed (Richey & Klein 40-44).

Historical Research Method

This kind of research helps in the logical recall of complex events, people, significance and thoughts of the earlier period that have changed the current and it relies on numerous sources that involve both primary and secondary sources. It primarily relies on the analysis and interpretation of the historical information from chosen sources depending on the topic to be researched upon. This research method facilitates decision making and policy formulation whilst justifying the reason behind the current situation status and predicting future trends based on past ideas. It basically deals with past natural settings whilst its interpretation concentrates on the past research processes and requires very elaborate sensitivity to the related data. Historical research needs sources with first-hand information of the events, ideas or any other data that have the true details or original records about the event that the study is based on (Connaway & Powell 246).

Correctional Research Method

This is one of the easiest research methods where a researcher assumes that there is a relationship between two variables and further tests for the statistical relationship between the two variables unlike descriptive research which only explains what is taking place, correlation research tends to explain the link between the different variables. Correlation research simply tries to assume that at least the two variables are related. Correlation research variables may take either the same direction which is referred to as positive correlation or opposite direction that is statistically referred to as negative correlation and no correlation which suggests that there is absolutely no relationship between two variables under study. Researchers usually use a number that ranges from -1 to +1 which is called correlation coefficient in measuring the strength of a correlation where any variable with a correlation above zero then it is called positive correlation (like +.34) while any correlation below zero (like-.87) is a negative correlation. However, it is important to note that correlation research does not imply causation but it is a means of looking for statistical relationships between variables when it is impossible to carry out testing (Burke & Christensen 44).

Experimental Research Method

All the other research methods do not have control over the situations hence making this kind of research the best amongst all. This method of research is geared towards proving a general principle that tends to explain various facts’ relationships by accurately defining the variables in the theory for testability purposes. Experimental Methods have two types of variables known as Independent variable that is manipulated by the experimenter and the dependent variable which refers to the outcome of the variable also known as the results of the experiment. This kind of research is aimed at predicting phenomenon and helps in explaining the kind of some causation (Kothari 120).