DB Unit 1 PS-515

DB Unit 1 PS-515 Name Institution Course Instructor Date DB Unit 1 PS-515 Descriptive Research Method A descriptive research method is used when the characteristics or behaviors of a phenomenon have to be observed and described without changing them in any way. This method seeks to give as much information as possible about a group, event, or situation. It is useful when looking for patterns or trends in behaviors, attitudes, or conditions. It includes surveys, case studies, and observation research (Aggarwal & Ranganathan, 2019). For instance, when researching the effects of exercise on the mental health of college students, descriptive research may be used to determine the exercise regimes of students and their corresponding mental health without having to change the exercise frequencies of the students. Still, this method helps understand what is happening, although it does not indicate why such patterns occur. Essential Parts of an Experiment Several elements are usually involved in an experiment. The Independent variable, also known as the manipulated variable, is the factor that is changed deliberately in the study to determine its effect on the dependent variable, also known as the response or criterion variable (Helmenstine, 2022). A control group is also used to check where the group is not treated, and their results can be compared to those of the test group. Random assignment minimizes bias because subjects are randomly distributed in the groups. Repetition is an aspec...