Best Examples of Descriptive Research Paper Outline Examples for Students

Let’s skip the theory and go straight to what most students actually need: real examples of descriptive research paper outline examples you can model.

Below, I’ll walk through several full outlines on current, 2024–2025–relevant topics. As you read, notice how each example:

• Starts with a focused descriptive question
• Organizes information into logical sections
• Uses headings and subheadings that match the research focus

After the outlines, I’ll break down patterns you can reuse for almost any descriptive topic.

Example of Descriptive Research Paper Outline: Social Media Use Among College Students

Working title: “How College Students Use Social Media in 2025: A Descriptive Study”

Research purpose: To describe patterns of social media use (time spent, platforms used, reasons for use) among undergraduate students.

I. Introduction

• Background: Brief overview of how social media has become part of daily life for young adults. Mention recent data from the Pew Research Center on social media usage trends among 18–29-year-olds.
• Context: Explain why understanding how students use social media (not just how often) matters for learning, mental health, and campus life.
• Descriptive focus: This study does not test a cause-and-effect relationship. Instead, it describes current patterns of behavior.
• Research question: How do undergraduate students at a mid-sized U.S. university use social media in terms of time, platform preferences, and primary purposes?
• Thesis-style statement: This paper describes the frequency, platform choices, and main reasons for social media use among undergraduates at a mid-sized U.S. university.

II. Method

• Research design: Descriptive survey design using an online questionnaire.
• Participants:
  • 300 undergraduate students
  • Age range 18–24
  • Recruited via campus email list
• Data collection:
  • Anonymous online survey
  • Questions on daily time spent, top three platforms, and main reasons for use (social connection, news, entertainment, academic purposes, etc.)
• Data analysis:
  • Descriptive statistics: frequencies, percentages, means
  • Simple tables and charts to summarize patterns

III. Results: Time Spent on Social Media

• Average daily use:
  • Mean hours per day
  • Range (minimum and maximum)
• Distribution:
  • Group students by usage categories (e.g., under 1 hour, 1–3 hours, 3–5 hours, more than 5 hours)
• Observations:
  • Which category includes the largest share of students?
  • Any noticeable differences by academic year (freshman vs. senior)?

IV. Results: Platform Preferences

• Most commonly used platforms:
  • Rank top platforms (e.g., Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, X/Twitter)
  • Percentage of students using each platform daily
• Multiple platform use:
  • Average number of platforms used daily per student
• Device use:
  • Proportion using smartphones vs. laptops vs. tablets

V. Results: Reasons for Use

• Primary reasons:
  • Social connection with friends and family
  • Entertainment and relaxation
  • Academic or professional networking
  • News and current events
• Patterns:
  • Which reasons are most common overall?
  • Any differences by major or academic year?

VI. Discussion

• Summary of key patterns:
  • Highlight the most striking descriptive findings (e.g., majority using social media more than 3 hours per day).
• Comparison with existing research:
  • Briefly compare with national data from Pew or similar sources.
• Implications:
  • How these patterns might affect study habits, sleep, or mental well-being.
• Limitations:
  • Single university sample, self-reported data.
• Suggestions for future descriptive research:
  • Repeating the study with high school students or nontraditional students.

This is one of the best examples of descriptive research paper outline examples because it shows how to keep the focus on describing patterns rather than explaining why they happen.

Another Example of Descriptive Research Paper Outline: Student Sleep Habits

Working title: “Sleep Habits of High School Students in Urban Public Schools”

Research purpose: To describe sleep duration, bedtime routines, and screen use before bed.

I. Introduction

• Short overview of why adolescent sleep matters, referencing the CDC’s guidance on teen sleep.
• Explanation that the paper simply describes current habits, not causes of poor sleep.
• Research question: What are the typical sleep patterns and bedtime behaviors of students at an urban public high school in 2025?

II. Method

• Descriptive cross-sectional design
• One high school, grades 9–12
• Self-report questionnaires about bedtime, wake time, naps, and device use

III. Results: Sleep Duration

• Average hours of sleep per night
• Percentage of students meeting CDC recommendations

IV. Results: Bedtime Routines

• Common pre-sleep activities (homework, social media, gaming, streaming)
• Typical bedtimes by grade level

V. Results: Screen Use Before Bed

• Proportion using phones in bed
• Time between last screen use and falling asleep

VI. Discussion

• Patterns that stand out (for example, large share sleeping under 7 hours)
• Possible implications for school start times and homework load

This outline is a clear example of how descriptive research papers often mirror the structure of survey reports from organizations like the CDC: background, method, descriptive results, and a brief discussion.

Health-Focused Examples of Descriptive Research Paper Outline Examples

Let’s look at a health-related topic, since many psychology, nursing, and public health courses ask for this type of assignment.

Working title: “Physical Activity Levels Among Office Workers in a Tech Company”

Research purpose: To describe how often employees engage in physical activity, what types of activities they choose, and how they feel about their activity levels.

I. Introduction

• Reference general recommendations for adult physical activity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Explain sedentary work as a modern trend.
• State that the study describes current habits rather than testing an intervention.

II. Method

• Anonymous online survey sent to employees
• Questions about weekly exercise minutes, types of activity, and perceived barriers

III. Results: Frequency and Duration

• Average minutes of moderate/vigorous activity per week
• Percentage meeting recommended guidelines

IV. Results: Types of Physical Activity

• Common activities (walking, running, gym workouts, home workouts, sports)

V. Results: Perceptions and Barriers

• How satisfied employees are with their activity levels
• Most frequently reported barriers (time, motivation, access to facilities)

VI. Discussion

• Overall profile of physical activity in this workplace
• Possible directions for wellness programs

This is another example of descriptive research paper outline examples that works well because the sections align tightly with the survey questions.

Education-Focused Example of a Descriptive Research Paper Outline: Online Learning Experiences

Working title: “Undergraduates’ Experiences with Hybrid and Online Courses in 2025”

Research purpose: To describe students’ satisfaction levels, challenges, and preferences regarding online and hybrid learning.

I. Introduction

• Brief recap of the growth of online and hybrid learning after the COVID-19 pandemic, with a nod to ongoing research from universities like Harvard and others.
• Clarify that this paper describes experiences; it does not evaluate learning outcomes.

II. Method

• Online questionnaire sent to students enrolled in at least one hybrid or online course
• Questions on satisfaction, perceived learning, technology issues, and communication with instructors

III. Results: Satisfaction Levels

• Percentage of students satisfied, neutral, or dissatisfied
• Differences by course level (intro vs. advanced)

IV. Results: Reported Benefits

• Flexibility
• Ability to re-watch recorded lectures
• Saving commuting time

V. Results: Reported Challenges

• Technology problems
• Distractions at home
• Feeling disconnected from classmates

VI. Discussion

• Overall picture of student experiences
• Suggestions for improving online course design

This is one of the best examples of descriptive research paper outline examples for education majors, because it stays tightly focused on describing experiences and perceptions.

Community and Environment Example of Descriptive Research Paper Outline: Neighborhood Safety Perceptions

Working title: “Residents’ Perceptions of Neighborhood Safety in a Mid-Sized U.S. City”

Research purpose: To describe how residents rate safety in their neighborhoods and what factors they associate with feeling safe or unsafe.

I. Introduction

• Short overview of why perceived safety matters for community well-being.
• Mention that this is descriptive research based on residents’ self-reports.

II. Method

• Mailed and online surveys to residents in selected neighborhoods
• Questions about daytime vs. nighttime safety, trust in local police, and experiences with crime

III. Results: Overall Safety Ratings

• Percentage of residents rating their neighborhood as very safe, somewhat safe, or unsafe

IV. Results: Time-of-Day Differences

• Comparison of perceptions during the day vs. at night

V. Results: Factors Linked to Feeling Safe

• Well-lit streets, visible police presence, community events, neighbor familiarity

VI. Discussion

• General profile of how residents experience their neighborhoods
• Possible uses for city planning or community programs

This outline is a strong example of descriptive research paper outline examples in the social sciences, especially for sociology or urban studies courses.

Mental Health Example of Descriptive Research Paper Outline: College Stress Levels

Working title: “Stress Levels and Coping Strategies Among First-Year College Students”

Research purpose: To describe how stressed first-year students feel and what coping methods they use.

I. Introduction

• Brief note on rising mental health concerns on campuses, referencing data from sources like the National Institute of Mental Health.
• Clarify that the paper describes stress and coping patterns; it does not test the effectiveness of any strategy.

II. Method

• Online survey distributed during the first semester
• Standardized stress scale plus open-ended questions about coping

III. Results: Reported Stress Levels

• Average stress score
• Percentage of students reporting high, moderate, or low stress

IV. Results: Common Stressors

• Academic workload
• Finances
• Social adjustment
• Living away from home

V. Results: Coping Strategies

• Exercise, social support, hobbies, avoidance behaviors

VI. Discussion

• Overall picture of first-year stress
• Implications for campus counseling and orientation programs

Together, these six outlines give you multiple examples of descriptive research paper outline examples across different fields—health, education, community studies, and student life.

How to Build Your Own Descriptive Research Paper Outline from These Examples

Instead of memorizing every heading, pay attention to the pattern that appears in each example of descriptive research paper outline:

• Start with a clear descriptive question: “What are the current patterns of…?” or “How do people typically…?”
• Use a straightforward structure: Introduction → Method → Results (broken into themes) → Discussion.
• Let your survey questions or observation categories shape your subheadings.

When you look back at the best examples of descriptive research paper outline examples above, you’ll notice that every Results section is broken into logical, readable chunks:

• Time or frequency
• Types or categories
• Perceptions, experiences, or attitudes

If you’re stuck, try writing your research question first, then list three to four aspects you want to describe. Those aspects often become your main Results subheadings.

FAQ: Descriptive Research Paper Outlines

Q1. What is an example of a simple descriptive research paper outline for beginners?
A very simple example of descriptive research paper outline might look like this: an introduction with your topic and question, a short method section describing who you studied and how you collected data, a results section with two or three subsections (for example, “Frequency of Behavior,” “Types of Behavior,” and “Participants’ Opinions"), and a brief discussion that summarizes the patterns you found.

Q2. Where can I find more real examples of descriptive research paper outline examples?
You can often find real examples in open-access theses and dissertations from university libraries, or in methods textbooks. Many universities host student papers or sample projects on their .edu sites. You can also look at descriptive survey reports from organizations like the CDC or Pew Research; while they may not use the exact term “research paper,” their structure is very similar to the outlines shown here.

Q3. How detailed should my outline be for a 5–7 page descriptive paper?
For a shorter paper, your outline should still include the main sections shown in the examples of descriptive research paper outline examples above, but you can reduce the number of subheadings. Aim for one clear paragraph for the method, two to four subsections in the results, and one to two paragraphs in the discussion.

Q4. Can I use these examples of descriptive research paper outline examples for qualitative data too?
Yes. If your data are interviews or open-ended responses, your outline can still follow the same overall structure. The main difference is that your Results subheadings will be themes (like “Academic Stress,” “Family Responsibilities,” “Social Support") instead of numeric categories.

Q5. Do I always need a separate Method section in a descriptive paper?
In most college-level research assignments, yes. Even short descriptive papers are stronger when they briefly explain who participated and how the information was collected. Every example of descriptive research paper outline above includes a Method section, even if it’s short, because it helps readers judge how trustworthy your descriptions are.

If you use these examples of descriptive research paper outline examples as models—rather than as something to copy word-for-word—you’ll find it much easier to organize your own descriptive study, whether you’re writing about social media, sleep, stress, or any other real-world topic.