Descriptive research aims to describe behaviors as they occur without attempting to answer why. There are three main methods: observational research directly observes behaviors; case studies provide in-depth analysis of a specific person, event, or situation; and surveys collect standardized information from a sample through questionnaires, interviews, or brief discussions to describe a population. Each method has strengths, such as providing rich qualitative data, but also limitations like inability to generalize or potential for researcher bias. The choice of descriptive method depends on the research question.