1. Scientific
Investigations

2. Scientists conduct
investigations for
different reasons. All
investigations require a
1. question, careful
2.observations and
3.data collection.

3. There are two major
types of data:
QuaLitative and
QuaNtitative

4. QuaLitative Data:
Data which uses descriptive
words
(notice the L for letters!)

5. Describing data is gathered with
the appropriate five senses:
• 1. Sight
• 2. Hear
• 3. Smell
• 4. Taste
• 5. Touch

6. QuaNtitative Data:
Data which uses numbers
from measurements
(notice the N for numbers!)

7. Once data is gathered,
scientists thoroughly
study the data to
identify patterns which
may lead to answering
the original question.

8. There are different
types of investigations
that scientists may
perform.

9. Descriptive
Investigations…
*Gathers data
which measures
or *describes
objects or
events

10. Descriptive
Investigations…
Collect: quaLitative
and/or
quaNtitative
data

11. Descriptive
Investigations…
Includes:
1. question or
2.problem, but…..

12. Descriptive
Investigations…
DO Does NOT have
1. hypothesis.
2.independent
variables or
3.dependent variables.

13. Comparative
Investigations…
Collect data on
different organisms,
orbects or events or
under different
conditions
Comparative
Investigations…
*Gathers data on
different organisms,
objects or events or
under different
conditions.

14. Comparative
Investigations…
Can *compares two or more
objects or events.

15. Comparative
Investigations…
Can *describe quantitatively
and qualitatively by finding
the similarities and
differences between
organisms, objects or events

16. Comparative
Investigations…
Collects: 1.quaLitative
observations by getting
measurements
2.quaNtitative observations
by measuring the
temperature, time ,
location, etc.

17. Comparative
Investigations…
Includes: 1.question and
2.hypothesis.

18. Comparative
Investigations…
Have a 1.hypothesis ,
2.dependent variable and
3.independent
variable

19. Experimental
Investigations…
*Gathers data to test a
single manipulated
variable
*Describes
quantitatively and
qualitatively

20. Experimental
Investigations…
*Compares any changes
in the dependent variable
to a control.

21. Experimental
Investigations…
Collects:
1. quaLitative and
2.quaNtitative data to test
the manipulating
Variable.

22. Experimental
Investigations…
Iincludes: a
1.question and
a 2.hypothesis

23. As well as includes a
3.control and a 4.constant.
These are two different
things.

24. Experimental
Investigations…
Have a 1.hypothesis and
both an 2.independent
variables and 3.dependent
variables
and a 4.control.
Control Miracle
Grow
Scotts

25. Control:
A control is an exact setup of
the experiment you are
performing. Everything is
identical except for the
variable that you are
testing.
Water + NaCl Water + KCl Water + PCl₅Water

26. Constant:
Factor(s) that is(are) kept
the same in all trials of an
investigation.
For Example:
* The height a paper helicopter
is dropped.
* The size of what is
considered to be a “drop”
of liquid.
* How hard you throw the ball.

27. The Independent
(manipulated) Variable:
Something you may change
during an experiment to
determine its
affect. I decide
what I will test.
Notice the I in
Independent!

28. The Dependent
(responding) Variable:
This is the variable you want to
study to see if it is affected by
the independent variable. The
affects (results)
depend on the
independent
variable. Notice
the D in Dependent!

29. Let’s pull it all together…
Using your notes,
Fill in the data
table.

30. RStatement Descriptive Comparative Experimental
Has
independent
variables
x x
Has dependent
variables
x x
Has a control x
Uses
quaNtitative
data
x x x
Uses
quaLitative data
x x x
Compares
changes
x x
Describes
objects or
events
x x x