If a researcher wanted to know why there was a noticeable increase in the number of reported incidents of child abuse in the town of Southpaw during 2005,the researcher would design

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An explanatory study would try to determine the cause or reason behind the increase in reported incidents. This would involve identifying potential factors (such as changes in reporting laws or an increase in awareness campaigns) and determining how they relate to the increase in child abuse reports. A descriptive study would simply provide information on the nature and extent of the increase without necessarily explaining why it occurred. A trend study would look at changes in child abuse reports over time, but may not necessarily try to explain a specific increase in one year. A longitudinal study would involve following a group of individuals over time, which may not be necessary for this particular research question. An exploratory study involves a preliminary investigation to generate ideas or hypotheses for future research and may not be the best approach for a specific question like this one.

If a Researcher Wanted to Know Why There Was a Noticeable