Formal Lab Report Procedure/SGO Lab write-up (Revised 3/23/16)
TITLE:
Should Lack creativity and give the reader a sense of the scope of the report. More of a thesis statement than a Title
EX: Effect of Net Primary Productivity on the health of predatory fishes in the Hackensack Meadowlands Estuary
BACKGROUND:(Approx. 3-5 Paragraphs)
More general information/less directly related to lab should be summarized.
Focus on background information that is specific to our lab ex…limiting factors with a focus on CO2 conc.
Identify dependent and independent variables for experiment
Hypothesis: Is your thesis statement of the lab report and is a subsection of your background.
Still written as an if then because. Bold it so it is easily identifiable!!
ABSTRACT: (Approx. 2-3 Paragraphs)
Briefly discuss/summarize experimental design..How will this provide relevant data to prove/disprove your hypothesis.
Rationale for doing this experiment, this way!!
Connect to how it will adequately determine the validity of your hypothesis.
PROCEDURE:
Details:
-Experimental design-includes independent and dependent variables, control v experimental group
-Is DV an accurate measure to prove your hypothesis
-are all other factors controlled: No confounding variables
-is data collection done in a reliable and timely manner
-is procedure reproducible and easy to follow…in proper order
DATA:
Make sure all data is neatly presented/easy to read. Just like in business, the presentation of data should be appealing to the reader!
Size of graphs and tables should make them easy to read
All data tables should have TITLES and CAPTIONS. Titles should be descriptive of what the data represents
All graphs should have descriptive, not creative, titles as well.
PRESENTATION!!!!!
CONCLUSION/ANALYSIS: (As long as it takes to address all these parts)
Re-summarize your experimental design, even more brief than in abstract (I know this is repetitive…do it anyway)
Restate your rationale and then……
Cite data to prove/disprove your hypothesis: Explain why using the underlying concepts and how your data shows this!! Specifically compare experimental results to your control group results to prove your point!!!
Is your data valid? What means did you employ to make it valid…discuss! (EX. ET50 in this lab)
Error Statement!!! Not just what the errors were, but how they detract from validity and if this detraction is enough to invalidate your hypothesis. (Further testing required)
If invalid how might I fix these errors in my next attempt to test the hypothesis!!
Next Steps???????