Types of Scientific Research Descriptive Experimental Grades 5-8; GLE 1

Descriptive Based mostly on observations Examples: –Animal behavior –Collecting rock samples from other planets

Descriptive Research State the objective –what you want to find out Design the investigation –How you will conduct the investigation What steps? What materials? What data? –Eliminate bias

Descriptive Research Analyze data Draw Conclusions Communicate results

Experimental Research Involves the control & manipulation of variables Examples: –Testing the effect of antibiotics on bacteria –Comparing the strength of different brands of paper towels

Experimental Research State the question –What you want to find out Develop a hypothesis –Educated guess about the relationship between the variables Design the experiment –What steps? –What data? –Controlled variables –Repeated trials

Experimental Research Collect & analyze data Draw conclusions Communicate results