Final answer:
Descriptive research is used to describe the basic characteristics of a population or clarify its usage and attitudes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Research designed to describe the basic characteristics of a given population or to clarify its usage and attitudes is known as descriptive research.
Descriptive research focuses on providing an accurate and detailed description of a particular population, including their characteristics, behaviors, attitudes, and opinions. It does not attempt to manipulate variables or establish cause-and-effect relationships.
For example, a researcher might conduct a survey to gather information about people's opinions on a certain topic or use existing records to analyze trends in a population's behavior over time.