Use this form as a checklist, to ensure that you have included every necessary item in your lab report.
1. Title and authors
Title (what was studied? Acting on what?) Suggested format: "Investigating the effect of increasing (or decreasing) the I.V. on the D.V."
Names (author, group and instructor)
Name of Class, date
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2.Introduction
Nature of the problem. eg: "This investigation involves factors affecting ....
Research question posed (what are you specificaly studying?)
Relevent research within text references (minimum several paragraphs. This also may require a few pages.)
Manner of study (variables discussion: independent, dependent variables, control and constants)
Justification for approach used (why do you think your experiment will yield a valid result?) and predicted outcome
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3. Hypothesis
IF...THEN framework
Same format as title: "If the I.V. increases (or decreases), then the D.V. will ___________."
Concise, correct statements (one sentence)
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4. Materials/Methods
Method written in third person, past tense. (describe what you did. Do not ever use the words such as I, we, you or our.)
Method designed with appropriate materials and apparatus
Method designed for the control of independent and dependent variables
Method designed for the collection of raw data. Generally, five sets of data is considered a minimum. Repeat trials could be mentioned although in regular classroom labs, we often do not have the time to perform repeat trials unless a specific trial has been an obvious failure.
Lab safety precautions? If there are no safety issues, then state "There are no safety concerns with this investigation." Problems?
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5. Results/observations
Raw data is collected and recorded in an appropriate manner.
Raw data is presented in an appropriate manner
Tables, charts, graphs are numbered with titles and include all labels and units.
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6. Data Analysis
Transforming and manipulating raw data (ie: calculations with
appropriate units, equations of graphed lines calculated and presented etc.).
Bar graphs and pie charts are normally not used in science. Graphs must include "Line of Best Fit"; do NOT connect-the-dots on a line graph.
NOTE: Senior IB students only must include error uncertainties (+/- ...) where ever possible.
Trends in data noted (absent/present/described) Describe observed trends in words; a few sentences usually will suffice.
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7. Evaluation
Evaluating / interpreting results and drawing conclusions. (don't just describe results.)
Congruency with outside research, referenced. In your explanation of your results, you must cite outside references which will support your explanation.
Evaluate the procedure(s) and suggest modifications. Include several paragraphs of discussion involving problems or good points of procedure you used. Also propose modificiations to procedure as a suggestion to future experimenters.
Error discussion goes in this section. Include possible systematic and random errors, but not mistakes.
Systematic errors or "system errors" include problems with measuring devices such as scales which are inaccurate. "Random errors" include unpredicable occurrences such as wind, temperature fluctuations and variations in chemical composition of raw materials. Do not include mistakes such as "wrote down wrong number" and "read scale incorrectly."
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8. Conclusion
The conclusion answers, in a concise manner, the hypothesis. (one or two sentences)
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9. References Cited
Sources cited in text, correctly listed, sufficient #. Use a variety of sources such as books, magazines, CD-ROM and reputable internet sites. Sources which are all from the internet are not allowed. Wikipedia references are never used, although you may use Wikipedia in yours search for more reputable cited references.
