Examples

DESCRIPTIVE
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In addition to the rubrics made available to you, your descriptive research may also benefit from imitating other key aspects of other high-quality descriptive investigations. The links below form a sort of digital library in which Dr. Merritt has attempted to include only high-quality descriptive 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 descriptive AND comparative 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 descriptive AND comparative 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 descriptive AND comparative methods]

STUDENT SCIENTISTS (undergraduate)

STUDENT SCIENTISTS (graduate)

PROFESSIONAL SCIENTISTS

Mammals