The Three Types of Investigations: Descriptive Comparative Experimental Which type of investigation do you think is represented at each station?

Descriptive Investigation Describing and/or quantifying parts of a system

Descriptive Investigations Involves describing and/or quantifying (counting) parts of a natural or man- made system.

Descriptive Investigations An investigation used to explore questions in environmental conditions you cannot control. – Ex. Jane Goodall’s study of chimpanzees. – Picture hyperlinked to: A hypothesis is not required in these investigations.

Comparative Investigation Collecting data on different organisms, objects, or features, or collecting data under different conditions (e.g., times of year or locations) to make a comparison

Comparative Investigations Involves collecting data on different organisms, features or collecting data under different conditions (For example, times of year, temperatures, locations)

Comparative Investigations Involves collecting data on different organisms/objects/features, or collecting data under different conditions to make a comparison. Example: times of year, temperatures, locations Hypothesis: Pecan trees produce more pecans during the rainy season than they do during a drought.

Experimental Investigations Involves designing a fair test in which variables are actively manipulated, controlled and measured in an effort to gather evidence to support or not support a hypothesis.

Experimental Investigation A fair test in which variables are manipulated, controlled, and measured to gather evidence to support or not support a hypothesis

Do plants grow better with or with out fertilizer? Research Question: Do plants grow better with or with out fertilizer? Hypothesis Ex: Plants will grow better with fertilizer because plants need nutrients to live. Gathering Data: Controlled experiment with one independent variable. Independent Variable: Amount of nutrients given to plants Dependent Variable: Measured growth of each plant Constants: Conditions kept the same (such as amount of liquid, type of plant, soil, amount of sunlight)