The Evolving Landscape of Research: Descriptive vs. Analytical Studies in the Age of AI
The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has undoubtedly transformed the research landscape, particularly in its ability to analyze vast amounts of descriptive data. This has led some to suggest that the distinction between descriptive and analytical studies is dissolving, as AI seemingly extracts profound insights from seemingly simple data. However, while AI offers exciting possibilities, it's crucial to critically examine the claim that descriptive data alone, analyzed with AI, constitutes an analytical study. Fundamental Differences Remain: Descriptive studies, as their name suggests, aim to characterize phenomena by answering "what" and "how many" questions. They provide invaluable first glimpses into a situation, often through surveys, case studies, or ethnographies. Analytical studies, in contrast, delve deeper, seeking to understand the "why" and "how" behind observed patterns. They aim to establish causal relationships