Description
Involves changing independent variable to notice changes
Strengths
detect cause-effect relationships
Understand laws of nature
Limitations
Variable manipulation can be unethical or non-practical
Example
Memory functions in chickadee
How the first amino acids originated
Description
descriptive
Non experimental, statistical tool
Strengths
Detecting relationships without variable manipulations
prediction
Limitations
Correlation does not prove causation
Example
relation between early drug abuse and peer approval
Description
Involves observing and recording
Done over a long period
No interference with subjects
Strengths
validate lab findings
Avoid limitations of lab observations
Limitations
No conclusions, Since it is descriptive
Long periods
Example
Do eagles hunt together?
Speed of volcanic flow
Description
Tool of data collection
Involves interviews and questionnaires
Strengths
sampling a large amount
Detects views and opinions
Social sciences
Limitations
Data inaccuracy may happen
Example
What seeds do birds like?
drug used in a specific university
Description
In-depth records
Non experimental, descriptive
Strengths
Detailed view
Study a single instance of something physical
Limitations
No conclusion can be drawn
Not representative
Example
Tracking a hereditary disorder
effect of isolation on a specific child