DP Investigation

A scientific investigation is a procedure that aims to support, dispute or refute a well formulated hypothesis through the analysis of data obtained through observation and/or measurement. Investigations usually involve:

• the development of a research plan which includes, but not limited to:

  • the formulation of a hypothesis
  • the formulation of aims and objectives
  • the formulation of a study design
  • the execution of the research plan which includes, but is not limited to:

• the selection, preparation or collection of sample(s)

  • the collection of data through observation, assay or measurement
  • the analysis of data
  • the preparation of an investigational report

An investigation is related to its activity parts through has proper part, and activities, being themselves processes, may be temporally ordered (occurs before / after) with precedes.

Descriptions describe or provide information about some entity (object or process or attribute). A hypothesis is a proposed explanation (a description) of some phenomena, while an objective is a description of a desired outcome. Descriptions that specify a set of actions to be executed are known as action specifications, which include plans, study designs and protocols. A plan should clearly identify (specify) one or more objectives, and optionally specify a hypothesis or a study design. Plans, like other effective specifications, are manifested as processes.

Procedures, such as investigations, assays and measurements are manifestations of effective specifications (information content entities may be manifested as objects or processes, including text, sound, physical gestures, etc). Thus, investigations (via the plan), have hypotheses and objectives as attributes. An objective is realized in the investigation iff those outcomes are fully apparent. Data generated from the investigation may also serve as evidence for the hypothesis, and more specifically found to be supporting, disputing, or refuting.