Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Research in psychology employs diverse methodologies to understand human behavior and mental processes. Two prominent approaches are descriptive and diagnostic research. Descriptive research aims to observe and record behavior, while diagnostic research seeks to identify the causes of observed behaviors or conditions. Both are vital, but they differ significantly in their objectives, methods, and the types of conclusions they allow. Understanding these differences is fundamental for researchers to select the appropriate methodology for their study. This answer will delineate these differences with illustrative examples.
Descriptive Research
Descriptive research focuses on observing and describing characteristics of a population or phenomenon. It doesn't manipulate variables or establish cause-and-effect relationships. Instead, it provides a snapshot of the current state of affairs.
- Purpose: To describe the characteristics of a population or phenomenon being studied.
- Methods: Surveys, naturalistic observation, case studies, archival research.
- Data Analysis: Primarily involves summarizing data using descriptive statistics (mean, median, mode, standard deviation).
- Example: A researcher conducting a survey to determine the prevalence of anxiety symptoms among college students. The study would describe the percentage of students reporting anxiety, but wouldn't attempt to explain *why* they are anxious.
Diagnostic Research
Diagnostic research, on the other hand, aims to identify the causes or underlying factors contributing to a particular problem or condition. It goes beyond simply describing a phenomenon; it seeks to understand *why* it occurs.
- Purpose: To identify the causes or contributing factors of a problem or condition.
- Methods: Experiments, correlational studies, clinical interviews, psychological testing.
- Data Analysis: Involves inferential statistics to test hypotheses and determine relationships between variables.
- Example: A clinical psychologist conducting a series of assessments (e.g., interviews, personality tests, cognitive tests) to diagnose a patient with depression. The goal is not just to describe the patient's symptoms, but to determine the underlying causes and develop a treatment plan.
Comparative Analysis
The key differences between descriptive and diagnostic research can be summarized in the following table:
| Feature | Descriptive Research | Diagnostic Research |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Describe characteristics | Identify causes |
| Focus | What is happening? | Why is it happening? |
| Manipulation of Variables | No manipulation | May involve manipulation (especially in experiments) |
| Causality | Cannot establish causality | Aims to establish causality or identify contributing factors |
| Data Analysis | Descriptive statistics | Inferential statistics |
Furthermore, descriptive research often serves as a preliminary step for diagnostic research. Observing a phenomenon descriptively can lead to the formulation of hypotheses that can then be tested through diagnostic research methods.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while both descriptive and diagnostic research are valuable tools in psychological investigation, they serve distinct purposes. Descriptive research provides a detailed account of a phenomenon, while diagnostic research delves into the underlying causes. The choice between these approaches depends on the research question and the desired level of understanding. Often, a combination of both approaches provides the most comprehensive insight into complex psychological phenomena.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.