Researching the average level of happiness in America is an example of what research method?

Researching the average level of happiness in America exemplifies descriptive research because this method focuses on providing a comprehensive overview of a phenomenon. In this case, it seeks to quantify and describe the general state of happiness among the American population. Descriptive research typically involves collecting data through surveys, observations, or existing records to present a clear picture of the subject being studied.

This method does not manipulate variables, as seen in experimental research, nor does it investigate the relationships between variables like correlation research. Additionally, while qualitative research would explore the subjective experiences and meanings of happiness through interviews or open-ended questions, the emphasis in this scenario is on measuring and summarizing happiness levels quantitatively. Thus, the nature of the research aligns perfectly with the objectives of descriptive research.