What is the main purpose of a descriptive study?

The main purpose of a descriptive study is to observe and describe natural occurrences without manipulating any variables. This type of research focuses on providing a detailed account of a phenomenon, situation, or group, highlighting characteristics and patterns as they naturally occur. Descriptive studies are valuable in developing an initial understanding of a subject, identifying patterns, and generating hypotheses for further investigation. This observational approach often involves techniques such as surveys, case studies, or observational methods and aims to paint a clear picture of the subject matter rather than testing a specific hypothesis or establishing cause-and-effect relationships as other research designs might do.