How do you think defining your cumulative field investigation as descriptive, comparative, or experimental will help you collect data and test your hypothesis? In your answer, describe what kind of data you’d collect during each type of investigation.
Defining your cumulative field investigation as descriptive, comparative, or experimental can help guide your data collection methods and the testing of your hypothesis in specific ways.
1. Descriptive investigation: In a descriptive investigation, the focus is on observing and documenting the characteristics of a phenomenon without manipulating any variables. This type of investigation is helpful for generating hypotheses or theories. In this case, you would collect data through observations, surveys, interviews, or document analysis. For example, if you are studying the behavior of a certain species of bird in a particular habitat, you may collect data on their feeding habits, mating rituals, nesting behavior, etc.
2. Comparative investigation: A comparative investigation involves comparing two or more groups or variables to identify similarities and differences. This type of investigation is useful for understanding the relationships between different factors. In a comparative investigation, you would collect data by comparing various groups or variables across different settings or conditions. For example, if you are studying the growth rates of different plant species in different soil types, you would collect data on the growth rates of each species in each soil type and then compare the results.
3. Experimental investigation: In an experimental investigation, the focus is on manipulating one or more variables to test causal relationships. This type of investigation is helpful for determining cause and effect relationships between variables. In an experimental investigation, you would collect data by conducting controlled experiments in which you manipulate one or more variables and measure the outcomes. For example, if you are studying the effect of temperature on the growth of a certain plant species, you would set up controlled experiments in which you expose plants to different temperature conditions and measure their growth rates.
In conclusion, defining your cumulative field investigation as descriptive, comparative, or experimental can help you determine the most appropriate data collection methods and testing procedures based on the nature of your research question and hypothesis. Each type of investigation requires different data collection techniques to effectively test your hypotheses and draw valid conclusions.