Good Description

What distinguishes 'good' description from 'mere' description? We propose a framework for evaluating descriptive empirical social science, premised on the idea that descriptive research -- like all empirical social science -- should be grounded in theory. First, we articulate the social scientific purpose of description, which provides criteria for assessing descriptive questions. Good descriptive questions seek to uncover facts in need of explanation, build theory, or help to evaluate and revise theory. Second, we articulate three ideal characteristics of descriptive analyses. Good descriptive analyses are clear, comparable, and complete. Such analyses should be tightly and transparently linked to specific research questions (and thus theory), well contextualized, and as comprehensive -- in their measurement and specification -- as possible.