1. Types of Science
Investigations
New Science TEKS

2. Types of Investigations
• Descriptive
• Comparative
• Experimental

3. Descriptive Investigations
• Investigations used when scientists describe something
quantitatively and/or qualitatively
• Research question
• Description of procedures
• Data collection, display and analysis
• Conclusion/Explanation

4. Descriptive Investigation:
• Involves describing and/or quantifying parts of a natural or man
made system.
• Quantitative Data
• Qualitative Data

5. Comparative Investigations
• Investigations used when scientists compare two or more
groups on one variable to determine the strength of
correlation
• Research question
• Description of procedures
• Hypothesis
• Independent variable
• Dependent variable
• Controlled all of the variables except the independent
• Data collection, display and analysis
• Conclusions/explanation

6. Comparative Investigation:
• Involves collecting data on different organisms/objects/features, or
collecting data under different conditions (e.g., times of the year,
temperatures, locations) to make a comparison.

7. Experimental Investigations
• Investigations used by scientists when they compare an
experimental group to a control group
• Research question
• Description of procedures
• Hypothesis
• Independent variable
• Dependent variable
• Controlled all of the variables except the independent
• Control group
• Data collection, display and analysis
• Conclusions/explanation

8. Experimental Investigations
• Investigations used by scientists when they compare an
experimental group to a control group
• Research question
• Description of procedures
• Hypothesis
• Independent variable
• Dependent variable
• Controlled all of the variables except the independent
• Control group
• Data collection, display and analysis
• Conclusions/explanation