COMPARATIVE
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In addition to the rubrics made available to you, your comparative research may also benefit from imitating other key aspects of other high-quality comparative investigations. The links below form a sort of digital library in which Dr. Merritt has attempted to include only high-quality comparative investigations for your perusal.
If/Whenever possible, he has included investigations authored by students involved in various levels of formal schooling. The collection of investigations published by professional scientists in peer-reviewed journals, however, remains the ultimate ‘target’ toward which all science students should aim.
STUDENT SCIENTISTS (elementary school)
STUDENT SCIENTISTS (middle school)
- Keegan, NL (2019). “Children who say hand dryers ‘hurt my ears’ are correct: A real-world study examining the loudness of automated hand dryers in public places.” Paediatrics & Child Health, pp. 1–6. [Note: this report combines both comparative AND descriptive methods]
- You can learn more about 13-year-old Nora Keegan’s scientific study in this 2019 NYTimes article.
STUDENT SCIENTISTS (high school)
- Doe, J. (2004). “Examination of Protozoan Cultures to Determine Cellular Structure and Motion Pattern.” A sample descriptive (biology) lab report provided by NC State University’s LabWrite project. [Note: this report combines both comparative AND descriptive methods]
- Doe, J. (2004). “Determination of Specific Nutrients in Various Foods.” A sample descriptive (chemistry) lab report provided by NC State University’s LabWrite project. [Note: this report combines both comparative AND descriptive methods]
STUDENT SCIENTISTS (undergraduate)
STUDENT SCIENTISTS (graduate)
PROFESSIONAL SCIENTISTS
Amphibians & Reptiles
- Lemos-Espinal JA, Smith GR, Woolrich-Piña GA, Cruz A (2017). “Amphibians and reptiles of the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, with comparisons with adjoining states.” ZooKeys 658: 105–130.
Last updated: July 2019