Lab Report Guide

Note: do the variables first as they guide the rest of the lab

Title
 Date lab was performed not date written up
Background Information
 Be brief and only include relevant information: stick to the point
Aim
 State exactly what you want to find out. The reader should be able to imagine and understand your
experiment after reading this and looking at your diagram.
 It can often be written in the form: Investigate the effect of the independent variable on the dependent
variable for a … (perhaps state an important controlled variable).
Variables
 Independent – what you are changing on purpose
 Dependent – what you are measuring. It is what depends/changes because of the independent variable
 Controlled –what you keep the same in order to have a fair test, remember these are measurable
quantities not pieces of equipment (include at least 2)
Prediction/Hypothesis:
 What you think the outcome will be?
 Why you think this will occur?
 You can often write it in the following way: As the independent variable increases (or otherwise
changes) the dependent variable will ________________ because ___________________ (explain using
scientific reasoning,)

Draw a sketch of your predicted results with graph maker.swf (no numbers or points are necessary, just a
curve/line with the axes and units labelled. Normally the independent variables is on the x-axis and the
dependent on the y-axis).

Equipment List
 A vertical list of every piece of equipment in columns
Diagram
 Of main set-up only
 it should include labels clearly showing the independent, dependent and controlled variables.

Method
 Needs to be clear and in a logical sequence, use numbered steps.
 Do not use the words “I” or “we” instead use the “passive voice”
 Ex. Do not say: “I will measure the temperature every 30 seconds” only say “Measure the
temperature every 30 seconds.”
 State the number of measurements you will make and the range of measurements.
 Decide what the maximum measurement can be and the minimum measurement.
 If you have the opportunity during a planning session, you should test out the minimum and the
maximum to make sure you will get valid results.
 You normally need at least 5 sets of measurements
 Often you will repeat your measurements 2-3 times and calculate an average.

 Describe how the data will be collected and organized.

 Describe how the data will be processed
 state/explain what calculations you will perform and how you will perform them
 state what you will graph: what will be on each axis (hint you probably already did this in your
prediction).
 Lab Report Guide

Results
 Table
 Include a title for the table
 Include units only in the heading
 Also include controlled variables and qualitative observations after the table
ex. Colour, smell, fizzing

distance and time for a toy car

time distance d (m) velocity

t (s) trial 1 trial 2 trial 3 average v (m/s)

1 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2

2 4.5 4.4 4.6 4.5 2.3

3 7.1 6.8 6.9 6.9 2.3

mass of car = 250 g

angle of track = 0º (horizontal)
spring plunger level = 3

SHOW sample calculations

EX.
average distance when time = 2 s
d1  d2  d3 4.5m  4.4m  4.6m
average    4.5m
3 3

velocity when time = 2 s

average distance 4.5m
velocity    2.3m / s
time 2s
 if a data logger was used include one screenshot that clearly shows how the data was collected.
 example: velocity is the gradient of a distance-time graph
 Lab Report Guide

Analysis
 Graph
 Title: in the form y vs x for … (if using graph maker.swf you will need to add title with a text box)
 Label axes with units
 Best fit: straight line with a ruler or a smooth curve (or a combination of the two) do not connect the
dots

Conclusion
 Describe a trend, pattern or relationship in the data and comment on the reliability of the data.
 State exactly what you found out (should relate to the Aim).
 Prediction: verified or falsified? Why?
 Describe the “big picture”: do not just repeat values or describe graph
 Discuss the shape of the line: linear or curve and what it signifies
 Write a clear conclusion based on the correct interpretation of the data and explain it using scientific
reasoning.
 Do not include new results or calculations in conclusion

Evaluation
 Evaluates the method, commenting on its reliability and validity.

 Reliability of the method: did the method allows for the collection of sufficient reliable data to answer
the question. Accuracy: An indication of how close a
 selection of the measuring instrument measurement is to the accepted value (a
 the precision and accuracy of the measurements measure of correctness)
 errors associated with the measurement instrument Precision: An indication of the agreement
 the size of the sample (were the readings over a large among a number of measurements made in
the same way (a measure of exactness). A
range?)
digital sensor may be more precise because
 the sampling techniques used and the number of readings. it has more decimal places but it can also
be inaccurate it not set up properly.
 Validity of the method: refers to whether the method allows Sometimes we increase the precision of the
for the collection of sufficient valid data to answer the digital sensors by increasing the measuring
question. frequency from 10 Hz to 40 Hz.
 did the measuring instrument measures what it is supposed
to measure
 the conditions of the experiment
 the manipulation of variables (fair testing).

 Comment on the validity of the hypothesis based on the outcome of the investigation.
 Suggest realistic improvements to the method and makes suggestions for further inquiry when relevant.
Do not simply state that a digital balance is better than a triple beam balance or state that you may have
made human error in measurements. Be more specific and descriptive.
 How could the experiment be extended if you had more time to do another experiment.