In: Economics
What are key differences between exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory studies? Imagine you are a researcher interested in learning more about alcohol abuse on college campuses. Use the table below to frame your study aims for each type of study. Study type Study aim Exploratory To..... Descriptive Explanatory
Exploratory - Conduct interviews, use secondary research, use analytical arguments. Basically try to get a broad overview of the problem. In college alcohol abuse, talk to professors, students, adminstration to have an idea of the problem.
Descriptive - collect data and explain the data through statistical features like mean, ratios. For this case, collect data on alchohol consumption, frequency, quantity, money spent, purpose of drinking (social / leisure).
Explanatory - this is the most in-depth research which tries to establish a causal link between variables.Here we use econometric tools, economic theory and try to explain an outcome behavior as a result of an input. In the alcholo abuse study, we should try to see what are the personal characteristics of people which increase their probability to drink. Their GPA, parents' income/education/alcohol consumption, their self reported reasons for drinking, hobbies etc. We are trying to establish a relation of the following kind : every hour of weekly sports participation decreases alcohol consumption by 50ml. Other way could be every 100ml weekly alcohol consumption decreases leads to this many points gained in GPA.