Guide to Writing Lab Reports

Guide to Writing Lab ReportsAspect 1 delimit the Problem and Selecting Vari satisfactorysResearch Question (RQ)The first office staff of planning an audition is writing a good research question that you bequeath investigate.A comput adequate to(p) RQ resultInclude some(prenominal) subordinate and independent covariantsBe Quantitative if getInclude the organism or tissue investigated conjectureA hypothesis is a statement that addresses the RQ and makes a prediction some what volition happen.A upright Hypothesis ordainBe scripted in an If. . ., then. . ., because. . . format.(If the independent variable does something, then the dependent variable will do something as a result, because explanation.)Include both dependent and independent variablesBe Quantitative if appropriateBe Testable (Falsifiable) carry on to the RQBe explainedVariablesVariables ar the different parts of your investigate that are able to change from one audition to a nonher. In order to perform a fa ir test it is master(prenominal) to make sure that we experience as many variables as possible in order to gain stainless information.A Good Variables list willInclude the indie variable the variable you changeInclude the Dependent variable the variable that changes as a result of the independent variableInclude other secureled variables ( unremittings?) and why we need toIdentify the control (controlled variables are things we need to keep constant in each experiment)Groups These groups should be very clearly identified so that you whitethorn refer back to them throughout your lab report as you do selective information processing, information resignation, and your conclusion/ evaluation.Control group This is the service line of work group that you will be comparing the how the independent variable affects the dependent variable.This is NOT the same thing as controlled variables.Experimental group(s) This (These) is (are) the what is affected by the independent variable a nd is what you are measuring.Aspect 2 Controlling VariablesControl of VariablesPart of methods surgical incision of a lab is to include how you will control the variables, non simple what the variables are as listed above. It is possible to list the variables in the method section or to list them in their own section before materials and methods. If this is the case you will still need to discuss HOW you will control them in the methods section.A Good Control of Variables section willSpecify how the cadences will be accumulate.Specify how the other variables will be controlled.Make sure that each variable in the list is keepAspect 3 Developing a Method for Collecting informationframe-up and MaterialsIncludes the necessary equipment and materials to control and measure the variables listed in Aspect 1. Should be in its own section separate from Method.A Good Apparatus and Materials List will evince the correct materials for each variableIndicate the precision of measurements500 ml beaker, instead of rightful(prenominal) beakerThermometer (0- snow) instead of just Thermometer1 meter stick or 100 cm normal not just rulerCan include an annotated diagram, but not necessaryMethods to Collect Sufficient and Relevant dataIncludes a numbered series of steps to control all variables and collect sufficient and relevant data. It is important when planning an experiment to think about the RANGE and SIZE of measurements as well as how many REPLICATES of the experiment you will do. This is part of the methods section. Should be in its own section separate from Apparatus and MaterialsA Good Methods section willInclude all steps necessary to fuck the experiment (even the obvious ones- think about your grandma)Include how and when to take measurements or record observationsAddress an appropriate RANGE of intervals or measurements.i.e. temperature from 0-10 or 0-100 or 50-100, etcIB requires that you slang a minimum of 5 increments (or trials) with a minimum of 5 repea ts at each trial.Address the SIZE of intervals or measurementsi.e. what units of time will be used, or how long will the experiment run, etcIndicates how many multiplication the experiment will be REPLICATEDi.e. how many times should you do the experiment?Makes sure that relevant data is able to be collectedselective information Collection and ProcessingAspect 1 Recording Raw infoCollecting and recording raw data data collection skills are important in accurately recording discovered events and are vital to scientific investigation. info collection involves all denary or soft raw data. Qualitative data is defined as things being observed with more or less unaided senses (color, change of state, etc.) or quite a crude estimates (hotter, colder, brighter, etc). Quantitative data involves some measurement.A Good Data Collector willRecord all appropriate data feed attention to detailInclude units for all measurementsInclude uncertainties of the instruments usedRules for data tabl e constructionIt is important when presenting data that is done in an in force(p) and easy to read format. There are more than one ship natesal to make a table, but you should unendingly follow convention when make your tables.A Good Data Table will haveA descriptive titleHeadings with units, no units in body of tableIndependent variable in the left hand columnDependent variable across the topUncertainties in all measurementsWhenever we make a measurement we do so with some actus reus or uncertainty. We cannot make particular measurements, therefore it is important to indicate what level of uncertainty there may be. This should be done in the headings after the units are given.Uncertainties are figure as of the smallest unit measurable by the instrument. For example, a thermometer that is graded to 1C has an uncertainty of 0.5C 1 unit of length ( x 2 measurements)Aspect 2 Processing Raw DataData ProcessingData processing means that you are actually converting the data into other form. Putting numbers into a table is not data processingA Good Data Processing section willShow the formula you used, even if it seems simpleInclude processes such asmeansstandard deviations% differencesStatistical testst-testX2 (Chi-squared) testAspect 3 Presenting neat DataData PresentationData presentation is not always necessary to every lab. You must evaluate if the data you collected is able to be graphed. Hint basically all quantitative data can be collectedA Good Data Presentation section will substance abuse the appropriate graph typecontinuous variable best line or scatter graphsdiscontinuous variable bar graphsparts of a whole pie chartsHave a descriptive titleHave appropriate headings with units on both axis vertebraBe drawn neatly with axis being drawn in pencilHave clear labels or a key if more than one data set is present on one set of axisHave clearly label and appropriate unitsHave points clearly located and markedNEVER refer the dotsAspect 1 Concludi ngConclusionA conclusion is not simply a restatement of the problem. It requires thought and analysis of the relevant data collected and presented.A Good Conclusion willRefer back to the RQ and hypothesis. Remember, you sight NOT prove your hypothesis right. You can support it, or confute it, but you cannot prove anythingBe explained with reference to data analysis and belles-lettres set translation dont recite something that is not in your dataGive the quantitative relationship between variables where appropriate linear, exponential, inverse, positive, negative, not it changed, we can see that declare how it changedCompare results with text book or other literature valuesAspect 2 Evaluating the ProcedureEvaluationMost difficult part You are not being judged as person, so dont take the defending and try and justify your mistakes Be honest, and think hard about what you could have done better.A Good Evaluation willIdentify sources of error in method and measurementIdentify li mitations in method whether or not you chose it or not and data collectionAspect 3 modify the InvestigationImprovementsAfter you identify possible sources of error in your experiment it is necessary to provide realistic methods to improve on your experiment.A Good Improvements section willAddress each of the possible sources of error in the investigation and cite methods that could be used to fix themChange dont say the temperature changed, or the graph changed. Use increase or decrease, or another qualitative statement.It, They, Them use nouns. It doesnt matter if you say the same thing 100 times This is not English class.Prove You cant prove anything. You can only support your hypothesis.SO. . . The temperature changed, therefore it changed too, which proves my hypothesis to be correct. Is a worthless sentence