Question

A student plans to perform a descriptive investigation with the class pet in science class, a goldfish. Which of these questions can be asked during a descriptive investigation, but not an experimental or comparative investigation?

Answer 1

Descriptive investigations focus on observing and describing behavior, such as a goldfish's swimming patterns, without manipulating variables and are distinct from experimental or comparative studies.

Step-by-step explanation:

During a descriptive investigation, particularly one involving a goldfish as the class pet, the questions posed would focus on detailed descriptions of behavior without the manipulation of variables. For example, a suitable question can be "What are the different types of swimming patterns exhibited by the goldfish throughout the day?" Unlike experiments or comparative studies, descriptive investigations do not include a hypothesis testing phase but rather emphasize observation and description of the subject's characteristics or behavior. Descriptive investigations are a way to gather qualitative data that can provide a basis for formulating hypotheses that can be tested in future experimental studies.