Types of Scientific Investigations

Types of Scientific Investigations

by Ms. Donkor

​Descriptive investigation

​Observations made about an organism, substance, reaction, or biological process Collect quantitative and/or qualitative data

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• Include the following parts of scientific inquiry

• - Observations

• - Scientific Question

• - Procedure

• - Data, Graphs, Analysis

• - Conclusion

​Descriptive Investigation

• Example: How does an amoebae move?

• ​A student used a microscope to observe an amoeba to determine how the organism moved.

​Comparative Investigation

​Comparing the effect of a variable on two or more groups Includes all the parts of an experiment except the control group

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• Include the following parts of scientific inquiry

• - Observations

• - Scientific Question

• - Hypothesis

• - Procedure

• - Variables: Independent and Dependent

• - Data, Graphs, Analysis

• - Conclusion

​Comparative Investigation

• A student used a hand lens to examine the color and texture of four different rocks.

​Experimental Investigation

• - Type of investigation with a set hypothesis and controlled conditions where variables are tested

• - Determines how a variable affects a group

• Include all parts of an experiment

  • - Observations

  • - Scientific Question

  • - Hypothesis

  • - Procedure

  • - Variables: Independent and Dependent

  • - Control and experimental group

  • - Data, Graphs, Analysis

  • - Conclusion

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​Experimental Investigation

Example: Test the effect of a fertilizer on a species of plant using a control group that does not receive any fertilizer.

Multiple Choice

What are the three types of investigations?

• Procedure, Experiment, Results

• Descriptive, Comparative, Experimental

• Hypothesis, Variables, Experiment

• Research, Constants, Control

Multiple Choice

Which type of investigation does not have a hypothesis?

• Descriptive

• Comparative

• Experimental

Multiple Choice

Which type of investigation has a control group?

• Descriptive

• Comparative

• Experimental

Multiple Choice

In which type of investigation would you look for similarities between 2 different plants?

• Descriptive

• Comparative

• Experimental

Multiple Choice

In which type of investigation would you compare the growth of pants given different amounts of fertilizer to a plant that was not given any fertilizer?

• Descriptive

• Comparative

• Experimental

Multiple Choice

Students identify types of organisms eaten by a praying mantis.

• Descriptive

• Comparative

• Experimental

Multiple Choice

Students document features on Earth, such as a earthquake fault.

• Descriptive

• Comparative

• Experimental

Multiple Choice

Students investigate the difference between the number of swings of a 3cm and 5cm string in a 1 minute time period.

• Descriptive

• Comparative

• Experimental

Multiple Choice

Students measure how changing the amount of salt in the water affects plant growth in an aquarium.

• Descriptive

• Comparative

• Experimental