It's not a hard-core science experiment, but it sounds like it researches/looks into records, references. etc. to get a conclusion. 

The question is broad, but it basically seems to be, "What are the results of these hostage negotiations, and how do various factors impact it?"
I'm only glimpsing at it, and someone might give you a more focused statement, but there's definitely a question and answer you can interpret from that article.