Which steps in an experimental investigation are not part of descriptive or comparative investigations
In order to determine which steps are not part of descriptive or comparative investigations, we need to understand what these types of investigations involve.
Descriptive Investigations:
Descriptive investigations aim to gather information and provide an accurate description of a particular phenomenon or object. They focus on observing and documenting facts, characteristics, and behaviors without making any comparisons or interventions.
Comparative Investigations:
Comparative investigations involve comparing two or more variables or groups in order to identify similarities, differences, patterns, or relationships. They typically involve the manipulation of variables and the comparison of outcomes between different groups or conditions.
With this context in mind, here are the steps that are not part of descriptive or comparative investigations:
1. Formulating a Research Hypothesis:
This step involves making a prediction about the relationship between variables or groups. This is not typically part of descriptive investigations, as their main objective is to collect factual information rather than test specific hypotheses.
2. Designing an Experimental Design:
Experimental design involves planning how to structure the investigation to answer the research question or test the hypothesis. While comparative investigations involve the design of controlled experiments, descriptive investigations usually do not require this level of experimental design.
3. Random Assignment or Selection:
Random assignment or selection is a crucial aspect of comparative investigations, as it helps ensure that the groups being compared are similar in terms of their characteristics. This step is generally not necessary in purely descriptive investigations because there is no need for comparison between groups.
4. Statistical Analysis:
Statistical analysis is often used in comparative investigations to determine if the observed differences between groups are statistically significant. Descriptive investigations, on the other hand, mostly involve summarizing and presenting the collected data without the need for statistical analysis.
In summary, the steps that are typically not part of descriptive or comparative investigations include formulating a research hypothesis, designing an experimental design, random assignment or selection, and statistical analysis.