Responsibilities for the Investigation

Purpose

To investigate an effect of energy resource development, use, or both (subsequently shortened to the term energy effect). Investigations entail looking into the history of the energy effect (what contributed to its existence), observing and recording current characteristics of the energy effect, and—for issue analysis—identifying and analyzing how people view the energy effect.

Responsibilities Involved in Completing an Investigation

These are possible jobs related to an investigation. Your group or teacher may have variations to these tasks. One or more students can be responsible for each of the following roles.

Leader: The leader directs the group and makes sure the tasks are completed. Specific responsibilities include development of research questions, interpreting facts and data, drawing conclusions, and preparing the final report. All these responsibilities are accomplished with the assistance of other group members.

Manager: The manager is responsible for organizing the researched information (such as maintaining a portfolio). The manager works closely with other group members to keep track of what has been and needs to be learned.

Researchers: The researchers help develop the research question(s) and work with the leader and manager to decide what information is needed. They plan strategies for gathering facts and data. They should collect data that is both primary (firsthand) and secondary (obtained from other resources). Depending on the needs of the project, they might conduct inventories, organize environmental monitoring tests, or design questionnaires. They work closely with the leader and manager to interpret the data. They design graphic representations of the results and meet with the manager to decide how to arrange the information.