investigatory
Looking into matters
Investigatory describes something relating to or characterized by investigation: investigatory powers, investigatory journalism, an investigatory committee.
The word functions identically to investigative, though investigative appears more frequently in everyday usage.
Both describe the process of examining facts, gathering evidence, or conducting official inquiries.
Seeking answers through inquiry
- probingThoroughly investigating something
- interrogationFormal, probing examination
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
cross-examination · interviewing · fact-finding · inspection · vetting · depositions · testimony · hearing
Private investigator
- gumshoeInformal term for detective
- SherlockIconic Victorian-era investigator
- HolmesFictional London investigator
- PoirotFictional Belgian detective
Marlowe · noir · whodunit · mystery · clues · undercover · surveillance · stakeout
Investigative journalism piece
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- sourcePoint of origin
- scoopFirst-reported story
- Watergate1970s political crisis
muckraking · deep throat · leak · cover-up · documents · tip · anonymous · corruption
Testable proposed explanation
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
- empiricalBased on observation, not theory
- dataFacts for analysis
- experimentationSystematic testing of ideas
variables · control · sample · findings · laboratory · fieldwork · replication · observation
questioning
Seeking answers through inquiry
- probingThoroughly investigating something
- interrogationFormal, probing examination
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
scrutiny · cross-examination · interviewing · fact-finding · inspection · vetting · depositions · testimony · hearing · tribunal
sleuth
Private investigator
- gumshoeInformal term for detective
- SherlockIconic Victorian-era investigator
- HolmesFictional London investigator
Poirot · Marlowe · noir · whodunit · mystery · clues · undercover · surveillance · stakeout · tail
exposé
Investigative journalism piece
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- sourcePoint of origin
- scoopFirst-reported story
Watergate · muckraking · deep throat · leak · cover-up · documents · tip · anonymous · corruption · scandal
hypothesis
Testable proposed explanation
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
- empiricalBased on observation, not theory
- dataFacts for analysis
experimentation · variables · control · sample · findings · laboratory · fieldwork · replication · observation · systematic
investigatoryaccepting
Willing to receive
uninquisitive · unquestioning · incurious · passive · cursory
- private investigatorHired non-police detective
- criminal investigatorOne who probes offenses
- paranormal investigatorsResearchers of supernatural occurrences
- fraud investigatorsProfessionals who expose deception
- fire investigatorOne who determines blaze causes
- arson investigatorExpert tracing fire origins