Inquiries,
Investigation &
Immersion
Inquiry: The Starting Point,
Like Asking a Question
Investigation: Gathering
Clues, Like a Detective
Immersion: Diving Deep,
Like Learning a New Skill
Helpful analogy:
Inquiry: Like asking, "What's for dinner?"
Investigation: Like checking the fridge to see what
ingredients you have.
Immersion: Like actually cooking the meal from start to
finish!
Key Differences:
Inquiry: Starts with a question.
Investigation: Gathers information to answer the
question.
Immersion: Experiences the subject directly and deeply.
Real-World Examples:
Inquiry: "Why do some people like spicy food?"
Investigation: Reading about different cultures and their food
traditions, researching the science behind taste buds, and
interviewing people who love spicy food.
Immersion: Trying different spicy foods, visiting a country known for
its spicy cuisine, and learning to cook spicy dishes yourself.
Research
Designs
Random Complete Block Design (RCBD)
Imagine: You have 4 different fertilizer types (A, B, C,
D) to test, and you have 12 pechay plants.
● You do: You divide the plants into 3 groups of 4
plants each, called "blocks".
● Why blocks? Each block represents a similar
condition, like the same row in your garden, or a
similar section of soil. This helps control for any
differences in the soil or other factors within your
garden.
●
Random Complete Block Design (RCBD)
Randomization: Within each block, you
randomly assign one plant to each fertilizer type
(A, B, C, D).
Example:
○ Block 1: A, C, B, D
○ Block 2: D, A, C, B
○ Block 3: B, D, A, C
Complete Block Design (CBD)
●
●
●
●
Imagine: Same as above, 4 fertilizer types and 12 pechay plants.
You do: You divide the plants into 3 groups of 4 plants each
(blocks), but you don't randomize within the blocks.
Why not randomize? You might have a specific reason for
arranging the plants in a certain order, like planting them in a
specific pattern.
Example:
○ Block 1: A, A, A, A
○ Block 2: B, B, B, B
○ Block 3: C, C, C, C
Key Differences:
Randomization: RCBD uses randomization within
blocks, while CBD does not.
Purpose: RCBD is used when you want to control for
differences within your experimental area. CBD is used
when you have a specific reason for arranging your
experimental units in a non-random way.
Which one to use?
RCBD: Usually the better choice, as it helps
control for more variables and reduces bias.
CBD: Use it when you have a good reason for not
randomizing, but be aware that it may introduce
more potential for bias.
Reasons why someone might choose CBD:
Pre-existing Conditions: If there are preexisting conditions in your experimental area
that you can't control, like a gradient in soil
quality or a difference in sunlight exposure
across your plot, you might choose CBD to
group similar conditions together. This way,
you're comparing the effects of fertilizers within
those similar conditions, even if you don't have
a perfectly randomized setup.
Reasons why someone might choose CBD:
Specific Spatial Arrangements: You might
have reasons to arrange your plants in a
specific pattern, like testing fertilizers in a stripcropping system where you alternate fertilizer
types. In this case, you wouldn't want to
randomize within each block because the
pattern is intentional and part of your
experimental design.
Reasons why someone might choose CBD:
Practical Considerations: Sometimes,
practical limitations might force you to
use CBD. For example, if you have
limited space and can only fit a certain
number of plants in a specific pattern,
you might have to use CBD despite the
lack of randomization.
Reasons why someone might choose CBD:
Minimizing Variability: CBD might be used if
you want to focus on minimizing variability
within each block. For example, you might
have a block of pechay plants that are all very
similar in size and health, and you want to
compare the effects of fertilizers within that
specific group.