descriptive quantitative research designs

• What is descriptive research?

Last updated

5 February 2023

Reviewed by

Cathy Heath

Descriptive research is a common investigatory model used by researchers in various fields, including social sciences, linguistics, and academia.

Read on to understand the characteristics of descriptive research and explore its underlying techniques, processes, and procedures.

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Descriptive research is an exploratory research method. It enables researchers to precisely and methodically describe a population, circumstance, or phenomenon.

As the name suggests, descriptive research describes the characteristics of the group, situation, or phenomenon being studied without manipulating variables or testing hypotheses . This can be reported using surveys , observational studies, and case studies. You can use both quantitative and qualitative methods to compile the data.

Besides making observations and then comparing and analyzing them, descriptive studies often develop knowledge concepts and provide solutions to critical issues. It always aims to answer how the event occurred, when it occurred, where it occurred, and what the problem or phenomenon is.

• Characteristics of descriptive research

The following are some of the characteristics of descriptive research:

Quantitativeness

Descriptive research can be quantitative as it gathers quantifiable data to statistically analyze a population sample. These numbers can show patterns, connections, and trends over time and can be discovered using surveys, polls, and experiments.

Qualitativeness

Descriptive research can also be qualitative. It gives meaning and context to the numbers supplied by quantitative descriptive research .

Researchers can use tools like interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic studies to illustrate why things are what they are and help characterize the research problem. This is because it’s more explanatory than exploratory or experimental research.

Uncontrolled variables

Descriptive research differs from experimental research in that researchers cannot manipulate the variables. They are recognized, scrutinized, and quantified instead. This is one of its most prominent features.

Cross-sectional studies

Descriptive research is a cross-sectional study because it examines several areas of the same group. It involves obtaining data on multiple variables at the personal level during a certain period. It’s helpful when trying to understand a larger community’s habits or preferences.

Carried out in a natural environment

Descriptive studies are usually carried out in the participants’ everyday environment, which allows researchers to avoid influencing responders by collecting data in a natural setting. You can use online surveys or survey questions to collect data or observe.

Basis for further research

You can further dissect descriptive research’s outcomes and use them for different types of investigation. The outcomes also serve as a foundation for subsequent investigations and can guide future studies. For example, you can use the data obtained in descriptive research to help determine future research designs.

• Descriptive research methods

There are three basic approaches for gathering data in descriptive research: observational, case study, and survey.

You can use surveys to gather data in descriptive research. This involves gathering information from many people using a questionnaire and interview .

Surveys remain the dominant research tool for descriptive research design. Researchers can conduct various investigations and collect multiple types of data (quantitative and qualitative) using surveys with diverse designs.

You can conduct surveys over the phone, online, or in person. Your survey might be a brief interview or conversation with a set of prepared questions intended to obtain quick information from the primary source.

Observation

This descriptive research method involves observing and gathering data on a population or phenomena without manipulating variables. It is employed in psychology, market research , and other social science studies to track and understand human behavior.

Observation is an essential component of descriptive research. It entails gathering data and analyzing it to see whether there is a relationship between the two variables in the study. This strategy usually allows for both qualitative and quantitative data analysis.

Case studies

A case study can outline a specific topic’s traits. The topic might be a person, group, event, or organization.

It involves using a subset of a larger group as a sample to characterize the features of that larger group.

You can generalize knowledge gained from studying a case study to benefit a broader audience.

This approach entails carefully examining a particular group, person, or event over time. You can learn something new about the study topic by using a small group to better understand the dynamics of the entire group.

• Types of descriptive research

There are several types of descriptive study. The most well-known include cross-sectional studies, census surveys, sample surveys, case reports, and comparison studies.

Case reports and case series

In the healthcare and medical fields, a case report is used to explain a patient’s circumstances when suffering from an uncommon illness or displaying certain symptoms. Case reports and case series are both collections of related cases. They have aided the advancement of medical knowledge on countless occasions.

The normative component is an addition to the descriptive survey. In the descriptive–normative survey, you compare the study’s results to the norm.

Descriptive survey

This descriptive type of research employs surveys to collect information on various topics. This data aims to determine the degree to which certain conditions may be attained.

You can extrapolate or generalize the information you obtain from sample surveys to the larger group being researched.

Correlative survey

Correlative surveys help establish if there is a positive, negative, or neutral connection between two variables.

Performing census surveys involves gathering relevant data on several aspects of a given population. These units include individuals, families, organizations, objects, characteristics, and properties.

During descriptive research, you gather different degrees of interest over time from a specific population. Cross-sectional studies provide a glimpse of a phenomenon’s prevalence and features in a population. There are no ethical challenges with them and they are quite simple and inexpensive to carry out.

Comparative studies

These surveys compare the two subjects’ conditions or characteristics. The subjects may include research variables, organizations, plans, and people.

Comparison points, assumption of similarities, and criteria of comparison are three important variables that affect how well and accurately comparative studies are conducted.

For instance, descriptive research can help determine how many CEOs hold a bachelor’s degree and what proportion of low-income households receive government help.

• Pros and cons

The primary advantage of descriptive research designs is that researchers can create a reliable and beneficial database for additional study. To conduct any inquiry, you need access to reliable information sources that can give you a firm understanding of a situation.

Quantitative studies are time- and resource-intensive, so knowing the hypotheses viable for testing is crucial. The basic overview of descriptive research provides helpful hints as to which variables are worth quantitatively examining. This is why it’s employed as a precursor to quantitative research designs.

Some experts view this research as untrustworthy and unscientific. However, there is no way to assess the findings because you don’t manipulate any variables statistically.

Cause-and-effect correlations also can’t be established through descriptive investigations. Additionally, observational study findings cannot be replicated, which prevents a review of the findings and their replication.

The absence of statistical and in-depth analysis and the rather superficial character of the investigative procedure are drawbacks of this research approach.

• Descriptive research examples and applications

Several descriptive research examples are emphasized based on their types, purposes, and applications. Research questions often begin with “What is …” These studies help find solutions to practical issues in social science, physical science, and education.

Here are some examples and applications of descriptive research:

Determining consumer perception and behavior

Organizations use descriptive research designs to determine how various demographic groups react to a certain product or service.

For example, a business looking to sell to its target market should research the market’s behavior first. When researching human behavior in response to a cause or event, the researcher pays attention to the traits, actions, and responses before drawing a conclusion.

Scientific classification

Scientific descriptive research enables the classification of organisms and their traits and constituents.

Measuring data trends

A descriptive study design’s statistical capabilities allow researchers to track data trends over time. It’s frequently used to determine the study target’s current circumstances and underlying patterns.

Conduct comparison

Organizations can use a descriptive research approach to learn how various demographics react to a certain product or service. For example, you can study how the target market responds to a competitor’s product and use that information to infer their behavior.

• Bottom line

A descriptive research design is suitable for exploring certain topics and serving as a prelude to larger quantitative investigations. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the “what” of the group or thing you’re investigating.

This research type acts as the cornerstone of other research methodologies . It is distinctive because it can use quantitative and qualitative research approaches at the same time.

What is descriptive research design?

Descriptive research design aims to systematically obtain information to describe a phenomenon, situation, or population. More specifically, it helps answer the what, when, where, and how questions regarding the research problem rather than the why.

How does descriptive research compare to qualitative research?

Despite certain parallels, descriptive research concentrates on describing phenomena, while qualitative research aims to understand people better.

How do you analyze descriptive research data?

Data analysis involves using various methodologies, enabling the researcher to evaluate and provide results regarding validity and reliability.

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• Descriptive Research Designs: Types, Examples & Methods

One of the components of research is getting enough information about the research problem—the what, how, when and where answers, which is why descriptive research is an important type of research. It is very useful when conducting research whose aim is to identify characteristics, frequencies, trends, correlations, and categories.

This research method takes a problem with little to no relevant information and gives it a befitting description using qualitative and quantitative research method s. Descriptive research aims to accurately describe a research problem.

In the subsequent sections, we will be explaining what descriptive research means, its types, examples, and data collection methods.

What is Descriptive Research?

Descriptive research is a type of research that describes a population, situation, or phenomenon that is being studied. It focuses on answering the how, what, when, and where questions If a research problem, rather than the why.

This is mainly because it is important to have a proper understanding of what a research problem is about before investigating why it exists in the first place. 

For example, an investor considering an investment in the ever-changing Amsterdam housing market needs to understand what the current state of the market is, how it changes (increasing or decreasing), and when it changes (time of the year) before asking for the why. This is where descriptive research comes in.

What Are The Types of Descriptive Research?

Descriptive research is classified into different types according to the kind of approach that is used in conducting descriptive research. The different types of descriptive research are highlighted below:

• Descriptive-survey

Descriptive survey research uses surveys to gather data about varying subjects. This data aims to know the extent to which different conditions can be obtained among these subjects.

For example, a researcher wants to determine the qualification of employed professionals in Maryland. He uses a survey as his research instrument , and each item on the survey related to qualifications is subjected to a Yes/No answer. 

This way, the researcher can describe the qualifications possessed by the employed demographics of this community. 

• Descriptive-normative survey

This is an extension of the descriptive survey, with the addition being the normative element. In the descriptive-normative survey, the results of the study should be compared with the norm.

For example, an organization that wishes to test the skills of its employees by a team may have them take a skills test. The skills tests are the evaluation tool in this case, and the result of this test is compared with the norm of each role.

If the score of the team is one standard deviation above the mean, it is very satisfactory, if within the mean, satisfactory, and one standard deviation below the mean is unsatisfactory.

• Descriptive-status

This is a quantitative description technique that seeks to answer questions about real-life situations. For example, a researcher researching the income of the employees in a company, and the relationship with their performance.

A survey will be carried out to gather enough data about the income of the employees, then their performance will be evaluated and compared to their income. This will help determine whether a higher income means better performance and low income means lower performance or vice versa.

• Descriptive-analysis

The descriptive-analysis method of research describes a subject by further analyzing it, which in this case involves dividing it into 2 parts. For example, the HR personnel of a company that wishes to analyze the job role of each employee of the company may divide the employees into the people that work at the Headquarters in the US and those that work from Oslo, Norway office.

A questionnaire is devised to analyze the job role of employees with similar salaries and who work in similar positions.

• Descriptive classification

This method is employed in biological sciences for the classification of plants and animals. A researcher who wishes to classify the sea animals into different species will collect samples from various search stations, then classify them accordingly.

• Descriptive-comparative

In descriptive-comparative research, the researcher considers 2 variables that are not manipulated, and establish a formal procedure to conclude that one is better than the other. For example, an examination body wants to determine the better method of conducting tests between paper-based and computer-based tests.

A random sample of potential participants of the test may be asked to use the 2 different methods, and factors like failure rates, time factors, and others will be evaluated to arrive at the best method.

• Correlative Survey

Correlative surveys are used to determine whether the relationship between 2 variables is positive, negative, or neutral. That is, if 2 variables say X and Y are directly proportional, inversely proportional or are not related to each other.

Examples of Descriptive Research

There are different examples of descriptive research, that may be highlighted from its types, uses, and applications. However, we will be restricting ourselves to only 3 distinct examples in this article.

• Comparing Student Performance:

An academic institution may wish 2 compare the performance of its junior high school students in English language and Mathematics. This may be used to classify students based on 2 major groups, with one group going ahead to study while courses, while the other study courses in the Arts & Humanities field.

Students who are more proficient in mathematics will be encouraged to go into STEM and vice versa. Institutions may also use this data to identify students’ weak points and work on ways to assist them.

• Scientific Classification

During the major scientific classification of plants, animals, and periodic table elements, the characteristics and components of each subject are evaluated and used to determine how they are classified.

For example, living things may be classified into kingdom Plantae or kingdom animal is depending on their nature. Further classification may group animals into mammals, pieces, vertebrae, invertebrae, etc. 

All these classifications are made a result of descriptive research which describes what they are.

• Human Behavior

When studying human behaviour based on a factor or event, the researcher observes the characteristics, behaviour, and reaction, then use it to conclude. A company willing to sell to its target market needs to first study the behaviour of the market.

This may be done by observing how its target reacts to a competitor’s product, then use it to determine their behaviour.

What are the Characteristics of Descriptive Research?  

The characteristics of descriptive research can be highlighted from its definition, applications, data collection methods, and examples. Some characteristics of descriptive research are:

• Quantitativeness

Descriptive research uses a quantitative research method by collecting quantifiable information to be used for statistical analysis of the population sample. This is very common when dealing with research in the physical sciences.

• Qualitativeness

It can also be carried out using the qualitative research method, to properly describe the research problem. This is because descriptive research is more explanatory than exploratory or experimental.

• Uncontrolled variables

In descriptive research, researchers cannot control the variables like they do in experimental research.

• The basis for further research

The results of descriptive research can be further analyzed and used in other research methods. It can also inform the next line of research, including the research method that should be used.

This is because it provides basic information about the research problem, which may give birth to other questions like why a particular thing is the way it is.

Why Use Descriptive Research Design?  

Descriptive research can be used to investigate the background of a research problem and get the required information needed to carry out further research. It is used in multiple ways by different organizations, and especially when getting the required information about their target audience.

• Define subject characteristics :

It is used to determine the characteristics of the subjects, including their traits, behaviour, opinion, etc. This information may be gathered with the use of surveys, which are shared with the respondents who in this case, are the research subjects.

For example, a survey evaluating the number of hours millennials in a community spends on the internet weekly, will help a service provider make informed business decisions regarding the market potential of the community.

• Measure Data Trends

It helps to measure the changes in data over some time through statistical methods. Consider the case of individuals who want to invest in stock markets, so they evaluate the changes in prices of the available stocks to make a decision investment decision.

Brokerage companies are however the ones who carry out the descriptive research process, while individuals can view the data trends and make decisions.

Descriptive research is also used to compare how different demographics respond to certain variables. For example, an organization may study how people with different income levels react to the launch of a new Apple phone.

This kind of research may take a survey that will help determine which group of individuals are purchasing the new Apple phone. Do the low-income earners also purchase the phone, or only the high-income earners do?

Further research using another technique will explain why low-income earners are purchasing the phone even though they can barely afford it. This will help inform strategies that will lure other low-income earners and increase company sales.

• Validate existing conditions

When you are not sure about the validity of an existing condition, you can use descriptive research to ascertain the underlying patterns of the research object. This is because descriptive research methods make an in-depth analysis of each variable before making conclusions.

• Conducted Overtime

Descriptive research is conducted over some time to ascertain the changes observed at each point in time. The higher the number of times it is conducted, the more authentic the conclusion will be.

What are the Disadvantages of Descriptive Research?  

• Response and Non-response Bias

Respondents may either decide not to respond to questions or give incorrect responses if they feel the questions are too confidential. When researchers use observational methods, respondents may also decide to behave in a particular manner because they feel they are being watched.

• The researcher may decide to influence the result of the research due to personal opinion or bias towards a particular subject. For example, a stockbroker who also has a business of his own may try to lure investors into investing in his own company by manipulating results.
• A case-study or sample taken from a large population is not representative of the whole population.
• Limited scope:The scope of descriptive research is limited to the what of research, with no information on why thereby limiting the scope of the research.

What are the Data Collection Methods in Descriptive Research?  

There are 3 main data collection methods in descriptive research, namely; observational method, case study method, and survey research.

1. Observational Method

The observational method allows researchers to collect data based on their view of the behaviour and characteristics of the respondent, with the respondents themselves not directly having an input. It is often used in market research, psychology, and some other social science research to understand human behaviour.

It is also an important aspect of physical scientific research, with it being one of the most effective methods of conducting descriptive research . This process can be said to be either quantitative or qualitative.

Quantitative observation involved the objective collection of numerical data , whose results can be analyzed using numerical and statistical methods. 

Qualitative observation, on the other hand, involves the monitoring of characteristics and not the measurement of numbers. The researcher makes his observation from a distance, records it, and is used to inform conclusions.

2. Case Study Method

A case study is a sample group (an individual, a group of people, organizations, events, etc.) whose characteristics are used to describe the characteristics of a larger group in which the case study is a subgroup. The information gathered from investigating a case study may be generalized to serve the larger group.

This generalization, may, however, be risky because case studies are not sufficient to make accurate predictions about larger groups. Case studies are a poor case of generalization.

3. Survey Research

This is a very popular data collection method in research designs. In survey research, researchers create a survey or questionnaire and distribute it to respondents who give answers.

Generally, it is used to obtain quick information directly from the primary source and also conducting rigorous quantitative and qualitative research. In some cases, survey research uses a blend of both qualitative and quantitative strategies.

Survey research can be carried out both online and offline using the following methods

• Online Surveys: This is a cheap method of carrying out surveys and getting enough responses. It can be carried out using Formplus, an online survey builder. Formplus has amazing tools and features that will help increase response rates.
• Offline Surveys: This includes paper forms, mobile offline forms , and SMS-based forms.

What Are The Differences Between Descriptive and Correlational Research?  

Before going into the differences between descriptive and correlation research, we need to have a proper understanding of what correlation research is about. Therefore, we will be giving a summary of the correlation research below.

Correlational research is a type of descriptive research, which is used to measure the relationship between 2 variables, with the researcher having no control over them. It aims to find whether there is; positive correlation (both variables change in the same direction), negative correlation (the variables change in the opposite direction), or zero correlation (there is no relationship between the variables).

Correlational research may be used in 2 situations;

(i) when trying to find out if there is a relationship between two variables, and

(ii) when a causal relationship is suspected between two variables, but it is impractical or unethical to conduct experimental research that manipulates one of the variables. 

Below are some of the differences between correlational and descriptive research:

• Definitions :

Descriptive research aims is a type of research that provides an in-depth understanding of the study population, while correlational research is the type of research that measures the relationship between 2 variables. 

• Characteristics :

Descriptive research provides descriptive data explaining what the research subject is about, while correlation research explores the relationship between data and not their description.

• Predictions :

 Predictions cannot be made in descriptive research while correlation research accommodates the possibility of making predictions.

Descriptive Research vs. Causal Research

Descriptive research and causal research are both research methodologies, however, one focuses on a subject’s behaviors while the latter focuses on a relationship’s cause-and-effect. To buttress the above point, descriptive research aims to describe and document the characteristics, behaviors, or phenomena of a particular or specific population or situation. 

It focuses on providing an accurate and detailed account of an already existing state of affairs between variables. Descriptive research answers the questions of “what,” “where,” “when,” and “how” without attempting to establish any causal relationships or explain any underlying factors that might have caused the behavior.

Causal research, on the other hand, seeks to determine cause-and-effect relationships between variables. It aims to point out the factors that influence or cause a particular result or behavior. Causal research involves manipulating variables, controlling conditions or a subgroup, and observing the resulting effects. The primary objective of causal research is to establish a cause-effect relationship and provide insights into why certain phenomena happen the way they do.

Descriptive Research vs. Analytical Research

Descriptive research provides a detailed and comprehensive account of a specific situation or phenomenon. It focuses on describing and summarizing data without making inferences or attempting to explain underlying factors or the cause of the factor. 

It is primarily concerned with providing an accurate and objective representation of the subject of research. While analytical research goes beyond the description of the phenomena and seeks to analyze and interpret data to discover if there are patterns, relationships, or any underlying factors. 

It examines the data critically, applies statistical techniques or other analytical methods, and draws conclusions based on the discovery. Analytical research also aims to explore the relationships between variables and understand the underlying mechanisms or processes involved.

Descriptive Research vs. Exploratory Research

Descriptive research is a research method that focuses on providing a detailed and accurate account of a specific situation, group, or phenomenon. This type of research describes the characteristics, behaviors, or relationships within the given context without looking for an underlying cause. 

Descriptive research typically involves collecting and analyzing quantitative or qualitative data to generate descriptive statistics or narratives. Exploratory research differs from descriptive research because it aims to explore and gain firsthand insights or knowledge into a relatively unexplored or poorly understood topic. 

It focuses on generating ideas, hypotheses, or theories rather than providing definitive answers. Exploratory research is often conducted at the early stages of a research project to gather preliminary information and identify key variables or factors for further investigation. It involves open-ended interviews, observations, or small-scale surveys to gather qualitative data.

Read More – Exploratory Research: What are its Method & Examples?

Descriptive Research vs. Experimental Research

Descriptive research aims to describe and document the characteristics, behaviors, or phenomena of a particular population or situation. It focuses on providing an accurate and detailed account of the existing state of affairs. 

Descriptive research typically involves collecting data through surveys, observations, or existing records and analyzing the data to generate descriptive statistics or narratives. It does not involve manipulating variables or establishing cause-and-effect relationships.

Experimental research, on the other hand, involves manipulating variables and controlling conditions to investigate cause-and-effect relationships. It aims to establish causal relationships by introducing an intervention or treatment and observing the resulting effects. 

Experimental research typically involves randomly assigning participants to different groups, such as control and experimental groups, and measuring the outcomes. It allows researchers to control for confounding variables and draw causal conclusions.

Related – Experimental vs Non-Experimental Research: 15 Key Differences

Descriptive Research vs. Explanatory Research

Descriptive research focuses on providing a detailed and accurate account of a specific situation, group, or phenomenon. It aims to describe the characteristics, behaviors, or relationships within the given context. 

Descriptive research is primarily concerned with providing an objective representation of the subject of study without explaining underlying causes or mechanisms. Explanatory research seeks to explain the relationships between variables and uncover the underlying causes or mechanisms. 

It goes beyond description and aims to understand the reasons or factors that influence a particular outcome or behavior. Explanatory research involves analyzing data, conducting statistical analyses, and developing theories or models to explain the observed relationships.

Descriptive Research vs. Inferential Research

Descriptive research focuses on describing and summarizing data without making inferences or generalizations beyond the specific sample or population being studied. It aims to provide an accurate and objective representation of the subject of study. 

Descriptive research typically involves analyzing data to generate descriptive statistics, such as means, frequencies, or percentages, to describe the characteristics or behaviors observed.

Inferential research, however, involves making inferences or generalizations about a larger population based on a smaller sample. 

It aims to draw conclusions about the population characteristics or relationships by analyzing the sample data. Inferential research uses statistical techniques to estimate population parameters, test hypotheses, and determine the level of confidence or significance in the findings.

Related – Inferential Statistics: Definition, Types + Examples

Conclusion  

The uniqueness of descriptive research partly lies in its ability to explore both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Therefore, when conducting descriptive research, researchers have the opportunity to use a wide variety of techniques that aids the research process.

Descriptive research explores research problems in-depth, beyond the surface level thereby giving a detailed description of the research subject. That way, it can aid further research in the field, including other research methods .

It is also very useful in solving real-life problems in various fields of social science, physical science, and education.

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• Descriptive Research Design | Definition, Methods & Examples

Descriptive Research Design | Definition, Methods & Examples

Published on 5 May 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on 10 October 2022.

Descriptive research aims to accurately and systematically describe a population, situation or phenomenon. It can answer what , where , when , and how   questions , but not why questions.

A descriptive research design can use a wide variety of research methods  to investigate one or more variables . Unlike in experimental research , the researcher does not control or manipulate any of the variables, but only observes and measures them.

Table of contents

When to use a descriptive research design, descriptive research methods.

Descriptive research is an appropriate choice when the research aim is to identify characteristics, frequencies, trends, and categories.

It is useful when not much is known yet about the topic or problem. Before you can research why something happens, you need to understand how, when, and where it happens.

• How has the London housing market changed over the past 20 years?
• Do customers of company X prefer product Y or product Z?
• What are the main genetic, behavioural, and morphological differences between European wildcats and domestic cats?
• What are the most popular online news sources among under-18s?
• How prevalent is disease A in population B?

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Descriptive research is usually defined as a type of quantitative research , though qualitative research can also be used for descriptive purposes. The research design should be carefully developed to ensure that the results are valid and reliable .

Survey research allows you to gather large volumes of data that can be analysed for frequencies, averages, and patterns. Common uses of surveys include:

• Describing the demographics of a country or region
• Gauging public opinion on political and social topics
• Evaluating satisfaction with a company’s products or an organisation’s services

Observations

Observations allow you to gather data on behaviours and phenomena without having to rely on the honesty and accuracy of respondents. This method is often used by psychological, social, and market researchers to understand how people act in real-life situations.

Observation of physical entities and phenomena is also an important part of research in the natural sciences. Before you can develop testable hypotheses , models, or theories, it’s necessary to observe and systematically describe the subject under investigation.

Case studies

A case study can be used to describe the characteristics of a specific subject (such as a person, group, event, or organisation). Instead of gathering a large volume of data to identify patterns across time or location, case studies gather detailed data to identify the characteristics of a narrowly defined subject.

Rather than aiming to describe generalisable facts, case studies often focus on unusual or interesting cases that challenge assumptions, add complexity, or reveal something new about a research problem .

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Descriptive research: what it is and how to use it.

8 min read Understanding the who, what and where of a situation or target group is an essential part of effective research and making informed business decisions.

For example you might want to understand what percentage of CEOs have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Or you might want to understand what percentage of low income families receive government support – or what kind of support they receive.

Descriptive research is what will be used in these types of studies.

In this guide we’ll look through the main issues relating to descriptive research to give you a better understanding of what it is, and how and why you can use it.

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What is descriptive research?

Descriptive research is a research method used to try and determine the characteristics of a population or particular phenomenon.

Using descriptive research you can identify patterns in the characteristics of a group to essentially establish everything you need to understand apart from why something has happened.

Market researchers use descriptive research for a range of commercial purposes to guide key decisions.

For example you could use descriptive research to understand fashion trends in a given city when planning your clothing collection for the year. Using descriptive research you can conduct in depth analysis on the demographic makeup of your target area and use the data analysis to establish buying patterns.

Conducting descriptive research wouldn’t, however, tell you why shoppers are buying a particular type of fashion item.

Descriptive research design

Descriptive research design uses a range of both qualitative research and quantitative data (although quantitative research is the primary research method) to gather information to make accurate predictions about a particular problem or hypothesis.

As a survey method, descriptive research designs will help researchers identify characteristics in their target market or particular population.

These characteristics in the population sample can be identified, observed and measured to guide decisions.

Descriptive research characteristics

While there are a number of descriptive research methods you can deploy for data collection, descriptive research does have a number of predictable characteristics.

Here are a few of the things to consider:

Measure data trends with statistical outcomes

Descriptive research is often popular for survey research because it generates answers in a statistical form, which makes it easy for researchers to carry out a simple statistical analysis to interpret what the data is saying.

Descriptive research design is ideal for further research

Because the data collection for descriptive research produces statistical outcomes, it can also be used as secondary data for another research study.

Plus, the data collected from descriptive research can be subjected to other types of data analysis .

Uncontrolled variables

A key component of the descriptive research method is that it uses random variables that are not controlled by the researchers. This is because descriptive research aims to understand the natural behavior of the research subject.

It’s carried out in a natural environment

Descriptive research is often carried out in a natural environment. This is because researchers aim to gather data in a natural setting to avoid swaying respondents.

Data can be gathered using survey questions or online surveys.

For example, if you want to understand the fashion trends we mentioned earlier, you would set up a study in which a researcher observes people in the respondent’s natural environment to understand their habits and preferences.

Descriptive research allows for cross sectional study

Because of the nature of descriptive research design and the randomness of the sample group being observed, descriptive research is ideal for cross sectional studies – essentially the demographics of the group can vary widely and your aim is to gain insights from within the group.

This can be highly beneficial when you’re looking to understand the behaviors or preferences of a wider population.

Descriptive research advantages

There are many advantages to using descriptive research, some of them include:

Cost effectiveness

Because the elements needed for descriptive research design are not specific or highly targeted (and occur within the respondent’s natural environment) this type of study is relatively cheap to carry out.

Multiple types of data can be collected

A big advantage of this research type, is that you can use it to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. This means you can use the stats gathered to easily identify underlying patterns in your respondents’ behavior.

Descriptive research disadvantages

Potential reliability issues.

When conducting descriptive research it’s important that the initial survey questions are properly formulated.

If not, it could make the answers unreliable and risk the credibility of your study.

Potential limitations

As we’ve mentioned, descriptive research design is ideal for understanding the what, who or where of a situation or phenomenon.

However, it can’t help you understand the cause or effect of the behavior. This means you’ll need to conduct further research to get a more complete picture of a situation.

Descriptive research methods

Because descriptive research methods include a range of quantitative and qualitative research, there are several research methods you can use.

Use case studies

Case studies in descriptive research involve conducting in-depth and detailed studies in which researchers get a specific person or case to answer questions.

Case studies shouldn’t be used to generate results, rather it should be used to build or establish hypothesis that you can expand into further market research .

For example you could gather detailed data about a specific business phenomenon, and then use this deeper understanding of that specific case.

Use observational methods

This type of study uses qualitative observations to understand human behavior within a particular group.

By understanding how the different demographics respond within your sample you can identify patterns and trends.

As an observational method, descriptive research will not tell you the cause of any particular behaviors, but that could be established with further research.

Use survey research

Surveys are one of the most cost effective ways to gather descriptive data.

An online survey or questionnaire can be used in descriptive studies to gather quantitative information about a particular problem.

Survey research is ideal if you’re using descriptive research as your primary research.

Descriptive research examples

Descriptive research is used for a number of commercial purposes or when organizations need to understand the behaviors or opinions of a population.

One of the biggest examples of descriptive research that is used in every democratic country, is during elections.

Using descriptive research, researchers will use surveys to understand who voters are more likely to choose out of the parties or candidates available.

Using the data provided, researchers can analyze the data to understand what the election result will be.

In a commercial setting, retailers often use descriptive research to figure out trends in shopping and buying decisions.

By gathering information on the habits of shoppers, retailers can get a better understanding of the purchases being made.

Another example that is widely used around the world, is the national census that takes place to understand the population.

The research will provide a more accurate picture of a population’s demographic makeup and help to understand changes over time in areas like population age, health and education level.

Where Qualtrics helps with descriptive research

Whatever type of research you want to carry out, there’s a survey type that will work.

Qualtrics can help you determine the appropriate method and ensure you design a study that will deliver the insights you need.

Our experts can help you with your market research needs , ensuring you get the most out of Qualtrics market research software to design, launch and analyze your data to guide better, more accurate decisions for your organization.

Related resources

Market intelligence 10 min read, marketing insights 11 min read, ethnographic research 11 min read, qualitative vs quantitative research 13 min read, qualitative research questions 11 min read, qualitative research design 12 min read, primary vs secondary research 14 min read, request demo.

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Home Market Research

Descriptive Research: Definition, Characteristics, Methods + Examples

Suppose an apparel brand wants to understand the fashion purchasing trends among New York’s buyers, then it must conduct a demographic survey of the specific region, gather population data, and then conduct descriptive research on this demographic segment.

The study will then uncover details on “what is the purchasing pattern of New York buyers,” but will not cover any investigative information about “ why ” the patterns exist. Because for the apparel brand trying to break into this market, understanding the nature of their market is the study’s main goal. Let’s talk about it.

What is descriptive research?

Descriptive research is a research method describing the characteristics of the population or phenomenon studied. This descriptive methodology focuses more on the “what” of the research subject than the “why” of the research subject.

The method primarily focuses on describing the nature of a demographic segment without focusing on “why” a particular phenomenon occurs. In other words, it “describes” the research subject without covering “why” it happens.

Characteristics of descriptive research

The term descriptive research then refers to research questions, the design of the study, and data analysis conducted on that topic. We call it an observational research method because none of the research study variables are influenced in any capacity.

Some distinctive characteristics of descriptive research are:

• Quantitative research: It is a quantitative research method that attempts to collect quantifiable information for statistical analysis of the population sample. It is a popular market research tool that allows us to collect and describe the demographic segment’s nature.
• Uncontrolled variables: In it, none of the variables are influenced in any way. This uses observational methods to conduct the research. Hence, the nature of the variables or their behavior is not in the hands of the researcher.
• Cross-sectional studies: It is generally a cross-sectional study where different sections belonging to the same group are studied.
• The basis for further research: Researchers further research the data collected and analyzed from descriptive research using different research techniques. The data can also help point towards the types of research methods used for the subsequent research.

Applications of descriptive research with examples

A descriptive research method can be used in multiple ways and for various reasons. Before getting into any survey , though, the survey goals and survey design are crucial. Despite following these steps, there is no way to know if one will meet the research outcome. How to use descriptive research? To understand the end objective of research goals, below are some ways organizations currently use descriptive research today:

• Define respondent characteristics: The aim of using close-ended questions is to draw concrete conclusions about the respondents. This could be the need to derive patterns, traits, and behaviors of the respondents. It could also be to understand from a respondent their attitude, or opinion about the phenomenon. For example, understand millennials and the hours per week they spend browsing the internet. All this information helps the organization researching to make informed business decisions.
• Measure data trends: Researchers measure data trends over time with a descriptive research design’s statistical capabilities. Consider if an apparel company researches different demographics like age groups from 24-35 and 36-45 on a new range launch of autumn wear. If one of those groups doesn’t take too well to the new launch, it provides insight into what clothes are like and what is not. The brand drops the clothes and apparel that customers don’t like.
• Conduct comparisons: Organizations also use a descriptive research design to understand how different groups respond to a specific product or service. For example, an apparel brand creates a survey asking general questions that measure the brand’s image. The same study also asks demographic questions like age, income, gender, geographical location, geographic segmentation , etc. This consumer research helps the organization understand what aspects of the brand appeal to the population and what aspects do not. It also helps make product or marketing fixes or even create a new product line to cater to high-growth potential groups.
• Validate existing conditions: Researchers widely use descriptive research to help ascertain the research object’s prevailing conditions and underlying patterns. Due to the non-invasive research method and the use of quantitative observation and some aspects of qualitative observation , researchers observe each variable and conduct an in-depth analysis . Researchers also use it to validate any existing conditions that may be prevalent in a population.
• Conduct research at different times: The analysis can be conducted at different periods to ascertain any similarities or differences. This also allows any number of variables to be evaluated. For verification, studies on prevailing conditions can also be repeated to draw trends.

Advantages of descriptive research

Some of the significant advantages of descriptive research are:

• Data collection: A researcher can conduct descriptive research using specific methods like observational method, case study method, and survey method. Between these three, all primary data collection methods are covered, which provides a lot of information. This can be used for future research or even for developing a hypothesis for your research object.
• Varied: Since the data collected is qualitative and quantitative, it gives a holistic understanding of a research topic. The information is varied, diverse, and thorough.
• Natural environment: Descriptive research allows for the research to be conducted in the respondent’s natural environment, which ensures that high-quality and honest data is collected.
• Quick to perform and cheap: As the sample size is generally large in descriptive research, the data collection is quick to conduct and is inexpensive.

Descriptive research methods

There are three distinctive methods to conduct descriptive research. They are:

Observational method

The observational method is the most effective method to conduct this research, and researchers make use of both quantitative and qualitative observations.

A quantitative observation is the objective collection of data primarily focused on numbers and values. It suggests “associated with, of or depicted in terms of a quantity.” Results of quantitative observation are derived using statistical and numerical analysis methods. It implies observation of any entity associated with a numeric value such as age, shape, weight, volume, scale, etc. For example, the researcher can track if current customers will refer the brand using a simple Net Promoter Score question .

Qualitative observation doesn’t involve measurements or numbers but instead just monitoring characteristics. In this case, the researcher observes the respondents from a distance. Since the respondents are in a comfortable environment, the characteristics observed are natural and effective. In a descriptive research design, the researcher can choose to be either a complete observer, an observer as a participant, a participant as an observer, or a full participant. For example, in a supermarket, a researcher can from afar monitor and track the customers’ selection and purchasing trends. This offers a more in-depth insight into the purchasing experience of the customer.

Case study method

Case studies involve in-depth research and study of individuals or groups. Case studies lead to a hypothesis and widen a further scope of studying a phenomenon. However, case studies should not be used to determine cause and effect as they can’t make accurate predictions because there could be a bias on the researcher’s part. The other reason why case studies are not a reliable way of conducting descriptive research is that there could be an atypical respondent in the survey. Describing them leads to weak generalizations and moving away from external validity.

Survey research

In survey research, respondents answer through surveys or questionnaires or polls . They are a popular market research tool to collect feedback from respondents. A study to gather useful data should have the right survey questions. It should be a balanced mix of open-ended questions and close ended-questions . The survey method can be conducted online or offline, making it the go-to option for descriptive research where the sample size is enormous.

Examples of descriptive research

Some examples of descriptive research are:

• A specialty food group launching a new range of barbecue rubs would like to understand what flavors of rubs are favored by different people. To understand the preferred flavor palette, they conduct this type of research study using various methods like observational methods in supermarkets. By also surveying while collecting in-depth demographic information, offers insights about the preference of different markets. This can also help tailor make the rubs and spreads to various preferred meats in that demographic. Conducting this type of research helps the organization tweak their business model and amplify marketing in core markets.
• Another example of where this research can be used is if a school district wishes to evaluate teachers’ attitudes about using technology in the classroom. By conducting surveys and observing their comfortableness using technology through observational methods, the researcher can gauge what they can help understand if a full-fledged implementation can face an issue. This also helps in understanding if the students are impacted in any way with this change.

Some other research problems and research questions that can lead to descriptive research are:

• Market researchers want to observe the habits of consumers.
• A company wants to evaluate the morale of its staff.
• A school district wants to understand if students will access online lessons rather than textbooks.
• To understand if its wellness questionnaire programs enhance the overall health of the employees.

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12 Quantitative Descriptive and Correlational Research

• Published: February 2023
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This chapter presents research designs for descriptive and correlational quantitative research. Descriptive research designs are used to address the question “What is x?” Correlational research designs are used to address the question “How are things related?” In contrast to some experimental research designs, in these design types the primary area of interest under investigation is not manipulated by the researcher. Researchers investigating descriptive or correlational research questions commonly use surveys or observational methods to gather data. Surveys are an efficient method for gathering large amounts of information about such things as individuals’ experiences, beliefs, and attitudes. When designing a survey, researchers must consider many things, such as how long it will be and what it will cover. Observation is an important means of gathering data, as when researchers observe video recordings of teachers or students in various situations. Another approach to observational research is the experience sampling method (ESM). In ESM, participants are interrupted at random times throughout the day and asked to respond to questions concerning their experiences in real time. In other words, researchers ask participants what they are doing at the moment they are contacted.

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Bridging the Gap: Overcome these 7 flaws in descriptive research design

Descriptive research design is a powerful tool used by scientists and researchers to gather information about a particular group or phenomenon. This type of research provides a detailed and accurate picture of the characteristics and behaviors of a particular population or subject. By observing and collecting data on a given topic, descriptive research helps researchers gain a deeper understanding of a specific issue and provides valuable insights that can inform future studies.

In this blog, we will explore the definition, characteristics, and common flaws in descriptive research design, and provide tips on how to avoid these pitfalls to produce high-quality results. Whether you are a seasoned researcher or a student just starting, understanding the fundamentals of descriptive research design is essential to conducting successful scientific studies.

Table of Contents

What Is Descriptive Research Design?

The descriptive research design involves observing and collecting data on a given topic without attempting to infer cause-and-effect relationships. The goal of descriptive research is to provide a comprehensive and accurate picture of the population or phenomenon being studied and to describe the relationships, patterns, and trends that exist within the data.

Descriptive research methods can include surveys, observational studies , and case studies, and the data collected can be qualitative or quantitative . The findings from descriptive research provide valuable insights and inform future research, but do not establish cause-and-effect relationships.

Importance of Descriptive Research in Scientific Studies

1. understanding of a population or phenomenon.

Descriptive research provides a comprehensive picture of the characteristics and behaviors of a particular population or phenomenon, allowing researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the topic.

2. Baseline Information

The information gathered through descriptive research can serve as a baseline for future research and provide a foundation for further studies.

3. Informative Data

Descriptive research can provide valuable information and insights into a particular topic, which can inform future research, policy decisions, and programs.

4. Sampling Validation

Descriptive research can be used to validate sampling methods and to help researchers determine the best approach for their study.

5. Cost Effective

Descriptive research is often less expensive and less time-consuming than other research methods , making it a cost-effective way to gather information about a particular population or phenomenon.

6. Easy to Replicate

Descriptive research is straightforward to replicate, making it a reliable way to gather and compare information from multiple sources.

Key Characteristics of Descriptive Research Design

The primary purpose of descriptive research is to describe the characteristics, behaviors, and attributes of a particular population or phenomenon.

2. Participants and Sampling

Descriptive research studies a particular population or sample that is representative of the larger population being studied. Furthermore, sampling methods can include convenience, stratified, or random sampling.

3. Data Collection Techniques

Descriptive research typically involves the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data through methods such as surveys, observational studies, case studies, or focus groups.

4. Data Analysis

Descriptive research data is analyzed to identify patterns, relationships, and trends within the data. Statistical techniques , such as frequency distributions and descriptive statistics, are commonly used to summarize and describe the data.

5. Focus on Description

Descriptive research is focused on describing and summarizing the characteristics of a particular population or phenomenon. It does not make causal inferences.

6. Non-Experimental

Descriptive research is non-experimental, meaning that the researcher does not manipulate variables or control conditions. The researcher simply observes and collects data on the population or phenomenon being studied.

When Can a Researcher Conduct Descriptive Research?

A researcher can conduct descriptive research in the following situations:

• To better understand a particular population or phenomenon
• To describe the relationships between variables
• To describe patterns and trends
• To validate sampling methods and determine the best approach for a study
• To compare data from multiple sources.

Types of Descriptive Research Design

1. survey research.

Surveys are a type of descriptive research that involves collecting data through self-administered or interviewer-administered questionnaires. Additionally, they can be administered in-person, by mail, or online, and can collect both qualitative and quantitative data.

2. Observational Research

Observational research involves observing and collecting data on a particular population or phenomenon without manipulating variables or controlling conditions. It can be conducted in naturalistic settings or controlled laboratory settings.

3. Case Study Research

Case study research is a type of descriptive research that focuses on a single individual, group, or event. It involves collecting detailed information on the subject through a variety of methods, including interviews, observations, and examination of documents.

4. Focus Group Research

Focus group research involves bringing together a small group of people to discuss a particular topic or product. Furthermore, the group is usually moderated by a researcher and the discussion is recorded for later analysis.

5. Ethnographic Research

Ethnographic research involves conducting detailed observations of a particular culture or community. It is often used to gain a deep understanding of the beliefs, behaviors, and practices of a particular group.

Advantages of Descriptive Research Design

1. provides a comprehensive understanding.

Descriptive research provides a comprehensive picture of the characteristics, behaviors, and attributes of a particular population or phenomenon, which can be useful in informing future research and policy decisions.

2. Non-invasive

Descriptive research is non-invasive and does not manipulate variables or control conditions, making it a suitable method for sensitive or ethical concerns.

3. Flexibility

Descriptive research allows for a wide range of data collection methods , including surveys, observational studies, case studies, and focus groups, making it a flexible and versatile research method.

4. Cost-effective

Descriptive research is often less expensive and less time-consuming than other research methods. Moreover, it gives a cost-effective option to many researchers.

5. Easy to Replicate

Descriptive research is easy to replicate, making it a reliable way to gather and compare information from multiple sources.

6. Informs Future Research

The insights gained from a descriptive research can inform future research and inform policy decisions and programs.

Disadvantages of Descriptive Research Design

1. limited scope.

Descriptive research only provides a snapshot of the current situation and cannot establish cause-and-effect relationships.

2. Dependence on Existing Data

Descriptive research relies on existing data, which may not always be comprehensive or accurate.

3. Lack of Control

Researchers have no control over the variables in descriptive research, which can limit the conclusions that can be drawn.

The researcher’s own biases and preconceptions can influence the interpretation of the data.

5. Lack of Generalizability

Descriptive research findings may not be applicable to other populations or situations.

6. Lack of Depth

Descriptive research provides a surface-level understanding of a phenomenon, rather than a deep understanding.

7. Time-consuming

Descriptive research often requires a large amount of data collection and analysis, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.

7 Ways to Avoid Common Flaws While Designing Descriptive Research

1. Clearly define the research question

A clearly defined research question is the foundation of any research study, and it is important to ensure that the question is both specific and relevant to the topic being studied.

2. Choose the appropriate research design

Choosing the appropriate research design for a study is crucial to the success of the study. Moreover, researchers should choose a design that best fits the research question and the type of data needed to answer it.

3. Select a representative sample

Selecting a representative sample is important to ensure that the findings of the study are generalizable to the population being studied. Researchers should use a sampling method that provides a random and representative sample of the population.

4. Use valid and reliable data collection methods

Using valid and reliable data collection methods is important to ensure that the data collected is accurate and can be used to answer the research question. Researchers should choose methods that are appropriate for the study and that can be administered consistently and systematically.

5. Minimize bias

Bias can significantly impact the validity and reliability of research findings.  Furthermore, it is important to minimize bias in all aspects of the study, from the selection of participants to the analysis of data.

6. Ensure adequate sample size

An adequate sample size is important to ensure that the results of the study are statistically significant and can be generalized to the population being studied.

7. Use appropriate data analysis techniques

The appropriate data analysis technique depends on the type of data collected and the research question being asked. Researchers should choose techniques that are appropriate for the data and the question being asked.

Have you worked on descriptive research designs? How was your experience creating a descriptive design? What challenges did you face? Do write to us or leave a comment below and share your insights on descriptive research designs!

extremely very educative

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Descriptive Research Design and Its Myriad Uses

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Table of Contents

The design of a research study can be of two broad types—observational or interventional. In interventional studies, at least one variable can be controlled by the researcher. For example, drug trials that examine the efficacy of novel medicines are interventional studies. Observational studies, on the other hand, simply examine and describe uncontrollable variables¹ .   

What is descriptive research design?¹

Descriptive design is one of the simplest forms of observational study design. It can either quantify the distribution of certain variables (quantitative descriptive research) or simply report the qualities of these variables without quantifying them (qualitative descriptive research).   

When can descriptive research design be used?¹

It is useful when you wish to examine the occurrence of a phenomenon, delineate trends or patterns within the phenomenon, or describe the relationship between variables. As such, descriptive design is great for¹ :  

• A survey conducted to measure the changes in the levels of customer satisfaction among shoppers in the US is the perfect example of quantitative descriptive research.  
• Conversely, a case report detailing the experiences and perspectives of individuals living with a particular rare disease is a good example of qualitative descriptive research.  
• Cross-sectional studies : Descriptive research is ideal for cross-sectional studies that capture a snapshot of a population at a specific point in time. This approach can be used to observe the variations in risk factors and diseases in a population. Take the following examples:   
• In quantitative descriptive research: A study that measures the prevalence of heart disease among college students in the current academic year.  
• In qualitative descriptive research: A cross-sectional study exploring the cultural perceptions of mental health across different communities.  
• Ecological studies : Descriptive research design is also well-suited for studies that seek to understand relationships between variables and outcomes in specific populations. For example:  
• A study that measures the relationship between the number of police personnel and homicides in India can use quantitative descriptive research design  
• A study describing the impact of deforestation on indigenous communities’ cultural practices and beliefs can use qualitative descriptive research design.  
• Focus group discussion reports : Descriptive research can help in capturing diverse perspectives and understanding the nuances of participants’ experiences.   
• First, an example of quantitative descriptive research: A study that uses two focus groups to explore the perceptions of mental health among immigrants in London.  
• Next, an example of qualitative descriptive research: A focus group report analyzing the themes and emotions associated with different advertising campaigns.  

Benefits of descriptive research design¹  

• Easy to conduct: Due to its simplicity, descriptive research design can be employed by researchers of all experience levels.  
• Economical: Descriptive research design is not resource intensive. It is a budget-friendly approach to studying many phenomena without costly equipment.   
• Provides comprehensive and useful information: Descriptive research is a more thorough approach that can capture many different aspects of a phenomena, facilitating a wholistic understanding.  
• Aids planning of major projects or future research: As a tool for preliminary exploration, descriptive research guides can guide strategic decision-making and guide major projects.  

The Bottom Line  

Descriptive research plays a crucial role in improving our lives. Surveys help create better policies and cross-sectional studies help us understand problems affecting different populations including diseases. Used in the right context, descriptive research can advance knowledge and inform decision making¹ .  

We, at Elsevier Language Services, understand the value of your descriptive research, as well as the importance of communicating it correctly. If you have a manuscript based on a descriptive study, our experienced editors can help improve its myriad aspects. By improving the logical flow, tone, and accuracy of your writing, we ensure that your descriptive research gets published in a top tier journal and makes maximum impact in academia and beyond. Contact us for a comprehensive list of services!   

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References 

• Aggarwal, R., & Ranganathan, P. (2019). Study designs: Part 2 – Descriptive studies. Perspectives in Clinical Research , 10 (1), 34. https://doi.org/10.4103/picr.picr_154_18 .  

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Descriptive research studies.

Descriptive research is a type of research that is used to describe the characteristics of a population. It collects data that are used to answer a wide range of what, when, and how questions pertaining to a particular population or group. For example, descriptive studies might be used to answer questions such as: What percentage of Head Start teachers have a bachelor's degree or higher? What is the average reading ability of 5-year-olds when they first enter kindergarten? What kinds of math activities are used in early childhood programs? When do children first receive regular child care from someone other than their parents? When are children with developmental disabilities first diagnosed and when do they first receive services? What factors do programs consider when making decisions about the type of assessments that will be used to assess the skills of the children in their programs? How do the types of services children receive from their early childhood program change as children age?

Descriptive research does not answer questions about why a certain phenomenon occurs or what the causes are. Answers to such questions are best obtained from  randomized and quasi-experimental studies . However, data from descriptive studies can be used to examine the relationships (correlations) among variables. While the findings from correlational analyses are not evidence of causality, they can help to distinguish variables that may be important in explaining a phenomenon from those that are not. Thus, descriptive research is often used to generate hypotheses that should be tested using more rigorous designs.

A variety of data collection methods may be used alone or in combination to answer the types of questions guiding descriptive research. Some of the more common methods include surveys, interviews, observations, case studies, and portfolios. The data collected through these methods can be either quantitative or qualitative. Quantitative data are typically analyzed and presenting using  descriptive statistics . Using quantitative data, researchers may describe the characteristics of a sample or population in terms of percentages (e.g., percentage of population that belong to different racial/ethnic groups, percentage of low-income families that receive different government services) or averages (e.g., average household income, average scores of reading, mathematics and language assessments). Quantitative data, such as narrative data collected as part of a case study, may be used to organize, classify, and used to identify patterns of behaviors, attitudes, and other characteristics of groups.

Descriptive studies have an important role in early care and education research. Studies such as the  National Survey of Early Care and Education  and the  National Household Education Surveys Program  have greatly increased our knowledge of the supply of and demand for child care in the U.S. The  Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey  and the  Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Program  have provided researchers, policy makers and practitioners with rich information about school readiness skills of children in the U.S.

Each of the methods used to collect descriptive data have their own strengths and limitations. The following are some of the strengths and limitations of descriptive research studies in general.

Study participants are questioned or observed in a natural setting (e.g., their homes, child care or educational settings).

Study data can be used to identify the prevalence of particular problems and the need for new or additional services to address these problems.

Descriptive research may identify areas in need of additional research and relationships between variables that require future study. Descriptive research is often referred to as "hypothesis generating research."

Depending on the data collection method used, descriptive studies can generate rich datasets on large and diverse samples.

Limitations:

Descriptive studies cannot be used to establish cause and effect relationships.

Respondents may not be truthful when answering survey questions or may give socially desirable responses.

The choice and wording of questions on a questionnaire may influence the descriptive findings.

Depending on the type and size of sample, the findings may not be generalizable or produce an accurate description of the population of interest.

Understanding Descriptive Research Designs and Methods

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• 1 Author Affiliation: Senior Nurse Scientist and Clinical Nurse Specialist, Office of Nursing Research & Innovation, Nursing Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio.
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Observational Study Designs: Synopsis for Selecting an Appropriate Study Design

Assad a rezigalla.

1 Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha, SAU

The selection of a study design is the most critical step in the research methodology. Crucial factors should be considered during the selection of the study design, which is the formulated research question, as well as the method of participant selection. Different study designs can be applied to the same research question(s). Research designs are classified as qualitative, quantitative, and mixed design. Observational design occupies the middle and lower parts of the hierarchy of evidence-based pyramid. The observational design is subdivided into descriptive, including cross-sectional, case report or case series, and correlational, and analytic which includes cross-section, case-control, and cohort studies. Each research design has its uses and points of strength and limitations. The aim of this article to provide a simplified approach for the selection of descriptive study design.

Introduction and background

A research design is defined as the “set up to decide on, among other issues, how to collect further data, analyze and interpret them, and finally, to provide an answer to the question” [ 1 ]. The primary objective of a research design is to guarantee that the collected evidence allows the answering of the initial question(s) as clearly as possible [ 2 ]. Various study designs have been described in the literature [ 1 - 3 ]. Each of them deals with the specific type of research or research questions and has points of strength and weakness. Broadly, research designs are classified into qualitative and quantitative research and mixed methods [ 3 ]. The quantitative study design is subdivided into descriptive versus analytical study designs or as observational versus interventional (Figure ​ (Figure1). 1 ). Descriptive designs occupy the middle and lower parts of the hierarchy of evidence-based medicine pyramid. Study designs are organized in a hierarchy beginning from the basic "case report" to the highly valued "randomised clinical trial" [ 4 - 5 ].

Case report

The case report describes an individual case or cases in their natural settings. Also, it describes unrecognized syndromes or variants, abnormal findings or outcomes, or association between risk factors and disease. It is the lowest level and the first line of evidence and usually deals with the newly emerging issues and ideas (Table ​ (Table1) 1 ) [ 4 , 6 - 10 ].

Case series

A case series is a report on data from a subject group (multiple patients) without control [ 6 , 11 - 12 ]. Commonly, this design is used for the illustration of novel, unusual, or atypical features identified in medical practice [ 6 ]. The investigator is governed by the availability and accuracy of the records, which can cause biases [ 13 - 14 ]. Bias in a case series can be decreased through consecutive patient enrollment and predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, explicit specification of study duration, and enrollment of participants (Table 2 ) [ 11 - 12 ].

Correlational study design

Correlational studies (ecologic studies) explore the statistical relationships between the outcome of interest in population and estimate the exposures. It deals with the community rather than in individual cases. The correlational study design can compare two or more relevant variables and reports the association between them without controlling the variables. The aim of correlational study design or research is to uncover any types of systematic relationships between the studied variables. Ecological studies are often used to measure the prevalence and incidence of disease, mainly when the disease is rare. The populations compared can be defined in several ways, such as geographical, time trends, migrants, longitudinal, occupation, and social class. It should be considered that in ecological studies, the results are presented at the population (group) level rather than individuals. Ecological studies do not provide information about the degree or extent of exposure or outcome of interest for particular individuals within the study group (Table  3 ) [ 7 ,  15 - 16 ]. For example, we do not know whether those individuals who died in the study group under observation had higher exposure than those remained alive.

Cross-sectional study design

The cross-sectional study examines the association between exposures and outcomes on a snap of time. The assessed associations are guided by sound hypotheses and seen as hypothesis-generating [ 17 ]. This design can be descriptive (when dealing with prevalence or survey) or analytic (when comparing groups) [ 17 - 18 ]. The selection of participants in a cross-sectional study design depends on the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria [ 18 - 19 ]. This method of selection limits randomization (Table 4 ).

Case-control study

A case-control study is an observational analytic retrospective study design [ 12 ]. It starts with the outcome of interest (referred to as cases) and looks back in time for exposures that likely caused the outcome of interest [ 13 , 20 ]. This design compares two groups of participants - those with the outcome of interest and the matched control [ 12 ]. The controls should match the group of interest in most of the aspects, except for the outcome of interest [ 18 ]. The controls should be selected from the same localization or setting of the cases [ 13 , 21 - 22 ]. Case-control studies can determine the relative importance of a predictor variable about the presence or absence of the disease (Table ​ (Table5 5 ).

Cohort study design

The cohort study design is classified as an observational analytic study design. This design compares two groups, with exposure of interest and control one [ 12 , 18 , 22 - 24 ].

Cohort design starts with exposure of interest comparing them to non-exposed participants at the time of study initiation [ 18 , 22 , 24 ]. The non-exposed serve as external control. A cohort design can be either prospective [ 18 ] or retrospective [ 12 , 20 , 24 - 25 ]. In prospective cohort studies, the investigator measures a variety of variables that might be a risk factor or relevant to the development of the outcome of interest. Over time, the participants are observed to detect whether they develop the outcome of interest or not. In this case, the participants who do not develop the outcome of interest can act as internal controls. Retrospective cohort studies use data records that were documented for other purposes. The study duration may vary according to the commencement of data recording. Completion of the study is limited to the analysis of the data [ 18 , 22 , 24 ]. In 2016, Setia reported that, in some instances, cohort design could not be well-defined as prospective or retrospective; this happened when retrospective and prospective data were collected from the same participants (Table ​ (Table6) 6 ) [ 24 ].

The selection of the study design is the most critical step in research methodology [ 4 , 26 ]. An appropriate study design guarantees the achievement of the research objectives. The crucial factors that should be considered in the selection of the study design are the formulated research question, as well as the method of sampling [ 4 , 27 ]. The study design determines the way of sampling and data analysis [ 4 ]. The selection of a research study design depends on many factors. Two crucial points that should be noted during the process selection include different study designs that may be applicable for the same research question(s) and researches may have grey areas in which they have different views about the type of study design [ 4 ].

Conclusions

The selection of appropriate study designs for research is critical. Many research designs can apply to the same research. Appropriate selection guarantees that the author will achieve the research objectives and address the research questions.

Acknowledgments

The author would like to acknowledge Dr. M. Abass, Dr. I. Eljack, Dr. K. Salih, Dr. I. Jack, and my colleagues. Special thanks and appreciation to the college dean and administration of the College of Medicine, University of Bisha (Bisha, Saudi Arabia) for help and allowing the use of facilities.

The content published in Cureus is the result of clinical experience and/or research by independent individuals or organizations. Cureus is not responsible for the scientific accuracy or reliability of data or conclusions published herein. All content published within Cureus is intended only for educational, research and reference purposes. Additionally, articles published within Cureus should not be deemed a suitable substitute for the advice of a qualified health care professional. Do not disregard or avoid professional medical advice due to content published within Cureus.

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

• Open access
• Published: 25 April 2024

Knowledge levels of doctors and nurses working in surgical clinics about nutrients and food supplements, a multicentre descriptive study

• Aslı Emine Büyükkasap 1 &
• Gülay Yazıcı 2  

BMC Nursing volume  23 , Article number:  277 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

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Metrics details

The use of nutrients and food supplements is increasing worldwide. Nutrients and food supplements frequently used in the surgical period may cause complications and side effects. This study was conducted to determine the level of knowledge about sixty-one nutrients and food supplements among doctors and nurses working in surgical clinics.

A multicentre descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional study.

The study was conducted between 15 February and 31 May 2022 with a total of 410 participants, including 143 doctors and 267 nurses, working in the surgical clinics of 8 hospitals, including public, university and private hospitals, within the borders of one province in Turkey. Data were collected face-to-face using a questionnaire developed by the researchers, which included descriptive characteristics of the doctors and nurses and questions about sixty-one nutrients and food supplements.

The median overall success score of the doctors and nurses participating in the study regarding the use of nutrients and food supplements was 3.20 out of 100 points, the median success score of complications and side effects of nutrients and food supplements in the surgical period was 7.06 out of 33 points, the median success score for discontinuation of nutrients and food supplements prior to surgery was 0.21 out of 16 points, and the median success score for drug interactions of nutrients and food supplements was 1.70 out of 51 points. In addition, it was found that the overall success scores of doctors and nurses regarding nutrients and food supplements increased statistically significantly with increasing age and working years. The total success score of doctors and nurses who received training in nutrients and food supplements was statistically significantly higher than that of doctors and nurses who did not receive training.

In conclusion, it was found that the level of knowledge of nutrients and food supplements among doctors and nurses working in surgical clinics was less than half or even close to zero. Therefore, it is recommended that training on nutrients and food supplements should be included in the undergraduate and postgraduate education of doctors and nurses in order to prevent complications, side effects, drug interactions and patient safety related to the use of nutrients and food supplements in the surgical period.

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Introduction

Plants, medicinal herbs, foods, and their derivatives have been used for centuries to prevent, treat, and maintain physical and mental health [ 1 , 2 ]. With the advancement of the modern pharmaceutical industry, these natural remedies have been transformed into nutrients and food supplements through physical and biological processes [ 3 ]. These products comprise of a variety of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, probiotics, or herbal components [ 4 , 5 ]. Nutrients and food supplements that are used to support daily nutrition are extensively used globally [ 2 , 6 , 7 ]. As per the World Health Organisation, around 80% of individuals in developing countries use nutrients and food supplements [ 8 ]. In developed countries, the use of nutrients and food supplements varies widely, with Spain at 41%, Canada at 70%, Australia at 82%, the United States of America at 35%, and Turkey at 53% [ 9 , 10 , 11 ].

The promotion of these products in mass media [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ] and recommendations from friends and family [ 1 , 12 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ], combined with their availability without prescription and affordability [ 16 , 18 , 19 ], contribute to their increased use [ 14 , 16 , 20 ]. Nutrients and food supplements are often preferred for improving health and well-being, alleviating symptoms associated with chronic diseases [ 10 ], cancer treatment [ 10 , 21 ], pregnancy [ 22 ], and the surgical period [ 23 , 24 , 25 ].

Nevertheless, their use can cause drug interactions and serious complications during surgery [ 24 , 26 , 27 ]. Nutrients and food supplements alter the efficacy of anticoagulants and antiplatelets [ 28 ], increase the efficacy of antihypertensive and antidiabetic drugs [ 29 ], interact with corticosteroids, central nervous system depressants, opioid analgesics [ 30 ] and anaesthetics [ 31 , 32 ] and increase the efficacy of sedatives and tranquillisers [ 13 ]. These supplements may also cause prolonged sedation [ 31 , 33 , 34 ], delayed recovery from anaesthesia [ 15 , 29 ], bleeding [ 15 , 31 , 33 , 34 , 35 ], coagulation disorders [ 34 , 35 ], cardiac problems [ 29 , 34 ], fluid-electrolyte imbalances [ 34 , 36 ], hypoglycaemia [ 15 , 34 ], affecting the need for analgesics after surgery [ 31 ], transplant rejection, irreversible side effects such as kidney [ 29 ] and liver toxicity [ 29 , 37 ] and even death. To prevent complications, side effects, and drug interactions, it is recommended to stop taking nutrients and food supplements two weeks prior to surgery [ 31 , 32 , 35 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 ]. Awareness and knowledge level of doctors and nurses are very important in order to prevent, recognise and treat complications related to nutrients and food supplements [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 46 ]. Upon examination of the literature, it was found that there is a lack of studies on doctors' knowledge of nutrients and food supplements, and the existing studies indicate that their knowledge on the subject is inadequate [ 47 , 48 ]. Similarly, no studies were found regarding the knowledge level of nurses on nutrients and food supplements.

Doctors and nurses working in surgical clinics should have the necessary awareness and knowledge to prevent, recognise, and treat complications related to nutrients and food supplements [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 46 ]. This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge of doctors and nurses working in surgical clinics regarding complications and side effects of sixty-one nutrients and food supplements, withdrawal periods, and drug interactions.

Type of research

The study was conducted in a descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional manner to determine the level of knowledge about sixty-one nutrients and food supplements among doctors and nurses working in surgical clinics.

Research population and sample

The population of the research consists of a total of 1,537 people, including 700 doctors and 837 nurses, working in the surgical clinics of 8 hospitals (6 public, 1 university and 1 private hospital) within the borders of a province in Turkey that approved the study. The sample calculation of the study was made with 50% unknown frequency and 95% confidence interval with type 1 error 0.05, and it was calculated that at least 307 participants should be reached. When the sample size was stratified separately for doctors and nurses, it was found that 140 doctors and 167 nurses needed to be reached. Criteria for inclusion in the study; working as a staff doctor or nurse in surgical clinics, volunteering to participate in the research, working in adult surgical clinics. Exclusion criteria from the study were as follows; not volunteering to participate in the research, not answering the entire questionnaire, working in surgical intensive care units, working in a pediatric surgery clinic, not being a permanent employee of the clinic where the research is conducted, being in the clinic due to rotation, working in the clinic on a temporary basis due to day or night shifts. The study was completed with a total of 410 people, including 143 doctors (6 from private hospitals, 30 from university hospitals, 107 from public hospitals) and 267 nurses (25 from private hospitals, 45 from university hospitals, 197 from public hospitals), who agreed to participate in the study, gave written consent, and completed the entire questionnaire. Doctors and nurses working in hospitals do not receive training in nutrients and food supplements.

Data collection tools

The research used a questionnaire-interview method to collect data. This questionnaire-interview was designed for this study by the researchers utilizing the literature ( Supplementary Material ). The questionnaire used for data collection consists of four parts. The first part includes the descriptive characteristics of the doctors and nurses, the second part includes the complications and side effects seen during the surgical period due to the use of nutrients and food supplements, the third part includes the duration of discontinuation of nutrients and food supplements before the surgical period, and the fourth part includes questions about drug interactions of nutrients and food supplements.

Section 1: descriptive characteristics of doctors and nurses

This section was developed by the researcher based on the literature [ 1 , 10 , 11 , 14 , 16 , 20 , 49 , 50 ]. This section consists of a total of 14 questions about doctors and nurses, including age, sex, education level, marital status, occupation, total years of professional experience, clinic where they work, total years of experience in the department where they work, status of training in nutrients and food supplements, status of questioning patients about the use of nutrients and dietary supplements, status of postponement of surgery due to the use of nutrients and dietary supplements, and number of patients for whom surgery was postponed.

Section 2: questions related to complications and side effects during the surgical period due to the use of nutrients and food supplements

This section was developed by the researcher based on the literature [ 4 , 13 , 24 , 28 , 29 , 32 , 35 , 42 , 44 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 ].

This section consists of questions about complications and side effects caused by 61 foods and nutrients and food supplements (garlic, onion, lemon, nettle, parsley, red pepper (capsicum), chia seed, celery, rosemary, sage, thyme, St. John's wort, turmeric, ginger, hawthorn, aloe vera, black tea, green tea, linden, lavender, chamomile, echinacea, calendula, clove, dandelion, ginseng, ginkgo biloba, cherry, blueberry, horse chestnut, liquorice, valerian, red clover, anise seed, ephedra, kava, fenugreek, black cohosh, burdock, cat's claw, mistletoe, hops, passionflower, bitter melon, devil's claw, coenzyme Q10, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin B12, vitamin D, fish oil, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, folic acid, alpha-lipoic acid, L-arginine, sports supplements, probiotics, weight-loss products).

These questions consist of a total of four questions: bleeding, fluid-electrolyte imbalance, hepatotoxic effects and effects on blood glucose levels. Each box in which the answers to the questions are scored corresponds to a response option. The answer options for the questions assessing bleeding are "increases", "decreases", "has no effect" and "don't know"; the answer options for the question assessing fluid-electrolyte imbalance are "does", "has no effect" and "don't know", the answer choices for the hepatotoxic effect question are 'does', 'has no effect' and 'don't know', and the answer choices for the blood glucose effect question are 'increases', 'decreases', 'has no effect' and 'don't know'.

For example, question 1 consists of four questions about the effects of garlic on bleeding, fluid-electrolyte imbalance, hepatotoxic effects, and blood glucose levels. When the literature was reviewed, it was found that garlic affects bleeding [ 44 ] and blood sugar [ 50 , 53 ]. However, no information was found in the literature on fluid-electrolyte imbalance and hepatotoxic effects. For this reason, the questions related to fluid-electrolyte imbalance and hepatotoxic effects were excluded from the evaluation and the effects on bleeding and blood glucose levels were evaluated. In this context, questions on 61 nutrients and food supplements that could not be found in the literature were excluded. Table 1 below shows the nutrients and food supplements that were excluded in this section. As a result, a total of 244 questions were asked in this section and 131 questions were evaluated in line with the literature (Table 1 ).

Section 3: questions related to the duration of discontinuation of nutrients and food supplements before the surgical period

This section was developed by the researcher based on the literature [ 31 , 32 , 35 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 44 , 45 , 50 , 52 , 75 ]. This section consists of a total of 61 questions about when to discontinue nutrients and food supplements (garlic, onion, lemon, nettle, parsley, red pepper (capsicum), chia seed, celery, rosemary, sage, thyme, St. John's wort, turmeric, ginger, hawthorn, aloe vera, black tea, green tea, linden, lavender, chamomile, echinacea, calendula, clove, dandelion, ginseng, ginkgo biloba, cherry, blueberry, horse chestnut, liquorice, valerian, red clover, anise seed, ephedra, kava, fenugreek, black cohosh, burdock, cat's claw, mistletoe, hops, passionflower, bitter melon, devil's claw, coenzyme Q10, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin B12, vitamin D, fish oil, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, folic acid, alpha-lipoic acid, L-arginine, sports supplements, probiotics, weight-loss products) in the preoperative period. Answers to these questions are sought as ".... should be discontinued weeks ago", ".... should be discontinued days ago (the period less than seven days will be written)", ".... should be discontinued hours ago (the period less than twenty-four hours will be written)", "I do not know the answer". The answer of the participants who answered "there is no need to cut" was noted as "0 hours".

Section 4: Drug interaction questionnaire for nutrients and food supplements

This section was developed by the researcher based on the literature [ 13 , 26 , 29 , 31 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 50 , 51 , 53 , 56 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 ]. It consists of questions on the interaction of nutrients and food supplements (garlic, onion, lemon, nettle, parsley, red pepper (capsicum), chia seed, celery, rosemary, sage, thyme, St. John's wort, turmeric, ginger, hawthorn, aloe vera, black tea, green tea, linden, lavender, chamomile, echinacea, calendula, clove, dandelion, ginseng, ginkgo biloba, cherry, blueberry, horse chestnut, liquorice, valerian, red clover, anise seed, ephedra, kava, fenugreek, black cohosh, burdock, cat's claw, mistletoe, hops, passionflower, bitter melon, devil's claw, coenzyme Q10, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin B12, vitamin D, fish oil, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, folic acid, alpha-lipoic acid, L-arginine, sports supplements, probiotics, weight-loss products) with the drug groups antihypertensive, anticoagulant, anaesthetic, analgesic, corticosteroid, antidiabetic, antidepressant. Each box corresponds to a response option and the options are 'increases', 'decreases', 'has no effect' and 'don't know'.

For example, there are 7 questions assessing the interaction of garlic with the following drug classes: antihypertensive, anticoagulant, anaesthetic, analgesic, corticosteroid, antidiabetic, antidepressant. There is information in the literature that garlic interacts with antihypertensive [ 44 ], anticoagulant [ 13 ], anaesthetic [ 31 ], analgesic [ 13 , 76 ], antidiabetic and antidepressant [ 50 ] drug groups. However, this question was excluded from the analysis as there was no information on the interaction with the corticosteroid group. Therefore, questions about 6 groups of drugs with which garlic interacts were analysed. In this context, questions about 61 nutrients and food supplements that could not be found in the literature were excluded. Table 2 shows the nutrients and food supplements that were excluded from the assessment in this section. As a result, a total of 427 questions were asked in this section and 201 questions were evaluated in accordance with the literature (Table 2 ).

A total of 393 questions were evaluated, including 131 questions to assess the level of knowledge about complications and side effects in the surgical period due to the use of nutrients and food supplements, 61 questions to assess the level of knowledge about the duration of cessation of nutrients and food supplements before the surgical period, 201 questions to assess the level of knowledge about nutrients and food supplements and drug interactions. The success score was calculated over 0-100 points based on the number of correct answers of doctors and nurses. Points were calculated for each correct answer. The score for one correct answer (100 points/393 questions ≌ 0.25) was calculated as approximately 0.25 points. Accordingly, the success score for complications and side effects of nutrients and food supplements in the surgical period was 33 points (131*0.25 ≌ 33.33), the success score for discontinuation periods before the surgical period was 16 points (61*0.25 ≌ 15.52), and the success score for nutrients and food supplements and drug interactions was 51 points (201*0.25 ≌ 51.15).

The questions in the questionnaire form were analysed by 5 faculty members who are experts in their fields are to evaluate them in terms of formality, scientific content and comprehensibility criteria. The questionnaire form was finalised in accordance with the form containing the expert opinions.

Use of data collection tools

Written permission was obtained from the ethics committee of Yıldırım Beyazıt University (06.01.22/36) and the institutions where the research was conducted. Written informed consent was obtained from the doctors and nurses who participated in the research. The study was conducted between 15 February and 31 May 2022, after obtaining ethics committee approval and institutional permission. Nursing directors/health services directors and chief doctors of hospitals with institutional approval were interviewed. The nurse in charge of the surgical clinics and the doctors' clinic chiefs were then interviewed and informed about the study. Information on the working hours, shift patterns and working practices of the doctors and nurses was obtained. To reach more participants, clinic visits were made between 08:00-16:00 and 16:00-20:00. Doctors and nurses were informed about the ethics committee and administrative permissions obtained, the content of the study and the method of implementation. Questions raised by the doctors and nurses were answered. Written informed consent was obtained from doctors and nurses who agreed to participate in the study. The doctors and nurses were interviewed alone in a quiet environment in the doctors' and nurses' room in the clinic. The interview was concluded once the questions had been answered. It took approximately 15-20 minutes for doctors and nurses to complete the questionnaire. The study was completed with 143 doctors and 267 nurses who agreed to participate in the study, a total of 410 participants.

Analysis of the data

The data obtained by the questionnaire collection method were transferred to the computer environment. The mean, standard deviation, minimum, maximum, median, frequency and percentage were used in the descriptive statistics of the characteristics of the doctors and nurses in the study. Before comparing the knowledge levels of doctors and nurses in groups, the normal distribution status, which is the assumption of parametric analyses, was tested using the Kolmogrow-Smirnow test [ 85 , 86 ].

Since the groups in the study did not meet the assumption of normal distribution, the Mann-Whitney U test in independent groups was used for pairwise group comparisons, the Kruskal-Wallis H test for three or more group comparisons, and the Mann-Whitney U analysis with Bonferroni correction for post hoc analysis [ 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 ]. SPSS 26 software was used for statistical analyses [ 91 ]. p <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Table 3 shows that the mean age of the doctors and nurses participating in the study was 33.26 (±7.90) years, 43.2% ( n =177) were between 22-29 years old, 72% ( n =295) were female, 46.6% ( n =191) were graduates, 65. 1% ( n =267) were nurses, 37.8% ( n =155) had worked for 10 years or more, 39.3% ( n =161) worked in general surgery and 39.8% ( n =163) had worked in their department for 1-4 years. It was found that 88.8% ( n =364) of doctors and nurses had not received any training on nutrients and food supplements, and 50% of those who had received training on nutrients and food supplements had received it during their professional training.

Doctors and nurses believed that 87.40% ( n =340) of patients used nutrients and food supplements because they found them beneficial to their health (Fig.  1 ). It was found that 64.6% ( n =265) of doctors and nurses did not question the use of nutrients and food supplements and 89.8% ( n =368) did not postpone surgery due to the use of nutrients and food supplements (Fig.  2 ).

Reasons for patients' preference for nutrients and food supplements according to doctors and nurses

Doctors' and Nurses' Questioning of Patients' Use of Nutrients and Food Supplements and Postponement of Surgery Due to the Use of Nutrients and Food Supplements

The median overall success score of doctors and nurses in the use of nutrients and food supplements was calculated as 3.20. Doctors and nurses received the highest score of 7.06 for complications and side effects of nutrients and food supplements in the surgical period and the lowest score of 0.21 for the duration of discontinuation of nutrients and food supplements prior to the surgical period (Table 4 ).

A statistically significant difference was found in the success scores of doctors and nurses regarding complications and side effects of nutrients and food supplements in the surgical period in terms of age groups ( p =0.002), years of employment ( p =0.025), and receiving training on nutrients and food supplements ( p <0.05) (Table 5 ). The knowledge level of the participants in the 22-30 age group was found to be statistically significantly lower than the 31-40 and 41 and over age groups ( p <0.05). The knowledge level of the participants working for 6-10 years was found to be statistically significantly higher than the participants working for 5 years ( p <0.05). In addition, the knowledge level of the participants who received training on nutrients and food supplements about the complications and side effects of nutrients and food supplements in the perioperative period was found to be statistically significantly higher than those who did not receive training ( p <0.05).

Success scores related to the duration of discontinuing of nutrients and food supplements in the preoperative period were statistically significantly higher in those who received training on nutrients and food supplements ( p <0.001) (Table 5 ).

The success scores of drug interactions of nutrients and food supplements were found to be statistically significantly higher in female participants than in males ( p =0.001), in nurses than in doctors ( p =0.007), according to educational status ( p =0.008), according to years of working experience ( p =0.010), in those who received training on nutrients and food supplements than in those who did not ( p <0.05), and in women statistically significantly higher than in men ( p =0.001) (Table 5 ). The knowledge level of high school graduates was found to be statistically significantly higher than that of postgraduate participants ( p <0.05). The knowledge level of the participants working for 11 years or more was found to be statistically significantly higher than the participants working for less than 5 years ( p <0.05).

The general success scores of doctors and nurses on nutrients and food supplements were found to be statistically significantly higher in older age groups ( p =0.003), in those who had worked for more years ( p =0.015) and in those who had received training on nutrients and food supplements ( p <0.001) (Table 5 ). The knowledge level of the participants in the 31-40 age group was found to be statistically significantly higher than the participants in the 41 and over age group ( p <0.01). The knowledge level of the participants who have been working for 6-10 years is statistically significantly higher than the participants who have been working for less than 5 years ( p <0,05).

Nutrients and food supplements are widely used worldwide [ 2 , 6 , 7 ] for health protection and treatment of chronic diseases [ 10 ]. For the same reasons, patients often prefer to use nutrients and food supplements during their surgical period [ 23 , 92 ]. However, because nutrients and food supplements may contain complex active ingredients with side effects [ 93 , 94 ], they may cause unexpected complications and side effects [ 40 ] or drug interactions in the surgical period [ 51 , 95 ]. To prevent these complications, side effects and drug interactions, the use of nutrients and food supplements should be stopped two weeks before surgery [ 39 , 44 ].

Doctors and nurses should ask patients directly about their use of nutrients and food supplements [ 42 ] and take a detailed medical history before surgery to prevent potential complications and adverse effects related to nutrients and food supplements during surgery [ 96 ]. According to a study conducted by Gamsız et al. (2011), 28.2% of doctors ask patients about their use of nutrients and food supplements during their treatment or before prescribing [ 97 ]. Shorofi et al. (2017) found that 15.8% of nurses questioned patients about nutrients and food supplements while taking their medical history [ 98 ]. In our study, only 35.4% of doctors and nurses questioned the use of nutrients and food supplements in the preoperative period, and 10.2% reported postponing surgery due to the use of nutrients and food supplements. The average number of operations postponed was 3.72±2.83. The rate of use of nutrients and food supplements during the surgical period in Turkey is 32.5-54.2% [ 17 , 23 , 99 , 100 ]. Considering the size of the population in which our study was conducted and the average annual number of operations, the rates of questioning the use of nutrients and food supplements and the number of operations postponed due to the use of nutrients and food supplements were found to be low. This result in our study, which is consistent with the literature, suggests that 11.2% of doctors and nurses have received training in nutrients and food supplements, and the more knowledge doctors and nurses have on this subject, the more they can implement practices aimed at questioning and preventing potential problems.

Doctors and nurses should have a high level of knowledge and awareness of the complications and side effects of nutrients and food supplements in the surgical period, drug interactions [ 101 ] and the duration of discontinuation in the preoperative period [ 35 , 39 , 44 ]. However, studies conducted with doctors in the literature emphasise that doctors do not have a sufficient level of knowledge [ 47 , 48 ]. No studies were found that assessed nurses' knowledge of nutrients and food supplements.

Heller et al (2006) found that 54% of plastic surgeons asked about nutrients and food supplements in the study knew the name and 90% did not know the side effects [ 102 ]. Taşpınar et al. (2014) found that 8.6% of doctors correctly answered the duration of stopping nutrients and food supplements in the preoperative period in their study with doctors [ 103 ]. Soltanipour et al (2022) found that the mean success score of doctors' ( n =142) knowledge of nutrients and food supplements was 6.47 ± 6.17 out of 25 points [ 48 ]. In this study, the success scores of doctors and nurses related to complications and side effects of nutrients and food supplements were 7.06 out of 33 points, the success scores related to discontinuation periods before the surgical period were 0.21 out of 16 points, the success scores related to drug interactions were 1.70 out of 51 points, and the total success scores were 3.20 out of 100 points. Although our study is consistent with the literature, 88.8% of doctors and nurses did not receive any training on nutrients and food supplements. This situation suggests that nutrients and food supplements are not included in continuing education during professional training or during working period.

Educating doctors and nurses about nutrients and food supplements in both professional and in-service training programmes will increase the knowledge of doctors and nurses [ 57 , 104 ]. Mikail et al (2003), in their study evaluating doctors' knowledge of nutrients and food supplements, found that the mean pre-test pass rate for doctors was 34% and the mean post-test pass rate after training was 61% [ 47 ]. In our study, the overall success score of doctors and nurses who received training on nutrients and food supplements was found to be higher than that of doctors and nurses who did not receive training. In addition, the success scores of doctors and nurses who received training on complications and side effects, discontinuation periods and drug interactions of nutrients and food supplements were also found to be higher. Our results show that education about nutrients and food supplements is effective in improving the level of knowledge.

In addition to education, age and years of experience also influence the level of knowledge of nutrients and food supplements among doctors and nurses [ 46 ]. Hasen et al found that doctors, nurses, and pharmacists aged 36-40 years were four times more knowledgeable about nutrients and food supplements than those aged 25-30 years [ 46 ]. Nurses' clinical experience and previous patient experience increase the level of knowledge in nursing practice [ 105 ].

In this study, it was found that the overall success scores of doctors and nurses in relation to nutrients and food supplements and the success scores in relation to complications and side effects increased statistically significantly with increasing age. In addition, total success scores, success scores related to complications and side effects, and success scores related to drug interactions of nutrients and food supplements increased statistically significantly with increasing years of employment. The results of our study suggest that the experience of doctors and nurses with increasing age and years of employment may contribute positively to the level of knowledge about nutrients and food supplements.

The success score for drug interactions of nurses with a high school degree was found to be statistically significantly higher than that of doctors and nurses with a university degree. This situation suggests that this is due to the statistically significant experience gained from the statistically significantly greater number of years of work of the high school graduate nurses.

Nurses were found to have higher success rates in drug interactions than doctors. This is due to the fact that nurses administer medications, observe side effects, and have experience in this area [ 106 ].

In our study, female doctors and nurses were found to have a statistically significant higher success rate with regard to drug interactions with nutrients and food supplements than male doctors and nurses. Koyu et al (2020) evaluated the use of nutrients and food supplements by healthcare professionals throughout the hospital and found that female healthcare professionals used nutrients and food supplements at a higher rate than male healthcare professionals [ 107 ]. Taşpınar et al. found that 33.9% of female doctors and 27.5% of male doctors used nutrients and food supplements [ 103 ]. It has been reported in the literature that female doctors and nurses prefer nutrients and food supplements more often than male doctors and nurses [ 103 , 107 ]. The fact that female doctors and nurses had higher achievement scores related to drug interactions of nutrients and food supplements may be related to the higher frequency of use in female doctors and nurses.

In our study, knowledge scores were evaluated in three groups (complications and side effects, drug interactions, discontinuation periods) and as a total score. It was found that the only common and most important factor affecting all three groups and the overall knowledge score was the status of training received on the subject. On the other hand, no positive effect of the level of education (high school, associate degree, undergraduate, postgraduate) on the knowledge level success score was found in any of the knowledge level success score groups. We believe that this situation is due to the lack of training on nutrients and food supplements in current medical and nursing education curricula.

Although nutrients and food supplements are widely used, in practice they may cause complications and side effects in the surgical period. Therefore, training doctors and nurses on the complications and side effects of nutrients and food supplements in the surgical period, discontinuation periods and drug interactions are necessary to prevent and resolve problems that may occur due to nutrients and food supplements used by the patient. In order to prevent potential complications and side effects in the surgical period due to misuse of nutrients and food supplements, it is essential that doctors and nurses are educated and have a high awareness of the use of nutrients and food supplements. In this study, it was found that the level of knowledge of nutrients and food supplements among doctors and nurses working in surgical clinics was less than half or even close to zero. This study revealed significant gaps in physicians' and nurses' knowledge of nutrients and food supplements and highlighted the need for comprehensive education to prevent potential risks associated with the use of nutrients and food supplements during the surgical period.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available in the Zonedo repository, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10738144 [ 108 ].

Büyükkasap AE, Yazıcı G. Knowledge levels of doctors and nurses working in surgical clinics about nutrients and food supplements, a multicentre descriptive study, dataset. Zenodo. 2024. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10738144

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Büyükkasap A, Yazıcı G. Knowledge levels of doctors and nurses working in surgical clinics about nutrients and food supplements, a multicentre descriptive study, dataset. 2024.

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Aslı Emine Büyükkasap

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Büyükkasap, A.E., Yazıcı, G. Knowledge levels of doctors and nurses working in surgical clinics about nutrients and food supplements, a multicentre descriptive study. BMC Nurs 23 , 277 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-01968-z

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