In science you will conduct many different types of investigations. There are three main types of investigations: descriptive, comparative, and experimental. In this lesson we will focus on descriptive and comparative.

Much of science is conducted with investigations using observations that result in descriptive findings. This type of study is called a descriptive investigation. Astronomers, meteorologists, and geologists often conduct descriptive investigations. Classification of leaves is an example of a descriptive investigation. Observing animal behavior in nature is another example. Descriptive investigations use careful observations and measurements to develop findings. Science journals, science logs, and field notebooks are some of the tools scientists use to gather information for descriptive investigations.

Comparative investigations involve collecting data on different organisms/objects/features, or collecting data under different conditions (e.g., times of year, temperatures, locations) to make a comparison. In comparative investigations, scientists look for patterns or trends by comparing similarities and differences over time and under various circumstances. Identifying the boiling points of three different liquids, and using a hand lens to observe the external anatomy of 2 different insects are examples of comparative investigations.