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Knowledge and Skills Statement

Scientific and engineering practices. The student, for at least 40% of instructional time, asks questions, identifies problems, and plans and safely conducts classroom, laboratory, and field investigations to answer questions, explain phenomena, or design solutions using appropriate tools and models.

 data that supports a hypothesis or an argument and is observable through the senses or technology

detectable events that are observed through the senses or technology; can be explained through scientific laws, ideas, principles, and theories

non-numerical factual information (such as observations) used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation; often includes both useful and irrelevant or redundant information and must be processed to be meaningful

numerical factual information (such as measurements or statistics) used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation; often includes both useful and irrelevant or redundant information and must be processed to be meaningful

Research

Harland, Darci J. 2011. STEM Student Research Handbook. VA: NTSA Press

Summary:  Understanding the differences between quantitative and qualitative data allows scientists and engineers to mathematically compare experimental groups with control groups. Qualitative data details observations. Chapter 2 explains the differences in data types, when to use them, and what to avoid.