Compare and contrast exploratory, descriptive and causal research designs.

Answer

Objective of exploratory design is to discover ideas and insights; of descriptive design is to describe market characteristics; of causal design to conclude cause and effect or functions.

Characteristics of exploratory design include versatility, flexibility and that it's often used as the front end of total research design. Characteristics of descriptive design include its preplanned and structured design and that it's marked by the prior formulation of specific hypotheses. Characteristics of causal design include the fact that mediating variables should be controlled for and that one or more independent variables are manipulated.

Methods using exploratory design comprise pilot surveys, expert surveys, secondary data (which is analyzed qualitatively), and qualitative research. Methods using descriptive design comprise secondary data (that is analyzed quantitatively), panels, surveys and observational and other data. Methods using causal design include experiments.