What is typically not a focus of descriptive research?

Descriptive research primarily aims to provide a comprehensive overview of a current situation or specific characteristics within a given population. It focuses on gathering data that portrays the present state of affairs, trends, and attributes. Thus, the elements that represent current dynamics, such as current market trends, demographic characteristics, and communication efforts, align well with the objectives of descriptive research.

In contrast, past organizational performance deals with historical data that reflects outcomes or metrics from previous timeframes. Since descriptive research is centered on the current picture rather than retrospective analysis, focusing on a past state diverges from its primary goal of describing and analyzing existing conditions or phenomena. Therefore, this aspect is typically not a focus within descriptive research methodologies.