Honors/IB Biology Lab Report Format

Every lab begins with a PRE-LAB (steps 1-6 listed below; do not number these steps in the final report)...

  1. Title- (Complete & Descriptive; ex: “Examining the Effect of Eating Chocolate and the Amount of Acne”)

INTRODUCTION

  1. Research Question
  1. Hypothesis & Explanation (hypothesis should be stated in “if… and… then” format)

Ex: If eating chocolate effects the amount of acne in teens, and 50 students eat a chocolate bar every day for 2 months and 50 students do not eat any chocolate during this time, then the students who are eating chocolate will have more acne on average than those students who didn’t eat chocolate.

  1. Variables Chart

IDV: (What is the independent variable? What did you change or manipulate in order to test the hypothesis?)

DV: (What is the dependent variable? What type of data did you collect?)

Controlled Variables / Why These Variables Are Most Likely to Affect Outcome of the Experiment if not Controlled / How this Method Allows for the Control of these Variables
X
Y
Z

MATERIALS AND METHOD

  1. Detailed Procedure (in some cases, a pictorial flowchart of procedure)

*At minimum: "Reference Teacher Handout"

RESULTS

  1. Ready-to-Use Data Table(s) for Data Collection
  • Observing/Collecting and Recording Raw Data

-all raw data (qualitative and quantitative) are recorded appropriately

-metric units and uncertainties where necessary are used

-in the case of a sketch, accurate portrayal of a specimen’s proportions, appearance, and/or behavior

  • Presenting Raw Data

-raw data are presented clearly

-each data table has a number and an informative title

-data tables are boxed-in with straight lines

-rows and columns have headings

-the independent variable (IDV) is in the left column, the dependent (DV) is in the middle column (subdivided into trials), and calculated data are in the right-hand column

-lab drawings are on white, unlined paper

-a microscopic specimen is sketched within a reference circle to represent the circular field of view; all labels appear outside the circle

-each sketch/drawing has a number and an informative figure title

-sketches include a size indicator of some kind (magnification used or the words “actual size”, etc.)

-sketches include labels which call the reader’s attention to key features or behaviors

During the lab you record your raw data by hand in your pre-made data table(s); make lab sketches; etc. After the lab, you complete two final sections of the report:

  1. Data Analysis:
  • Transforming and Manipulating Raw Data

-use the most appropriate graph (line, bar, pie) for data

-a line or curve has been “fitted” to the points on a line graph (instead of “connecting the dots”)

-bars on a bar graph, or sections of a pie graph are labeled

-include a sample calculation

  • Presenting the Processed Data

-graphs are presented in a professional manner (straight axis lines, appropriate scales on x and y axes)

-each graph is numbered and has an informative title

-axes are labeled appropriately; IDV on the x-axis, DV on the y-axis

DISCUSSION / CONCLUSION

  1. Evaluation/Conclusion
  • Evaluating Results (Drawing Conclusions)

-restate the research question

-a summary of what happened (include average numbers with units!)

-explain why the experiment resulted in this data; use your knowledge of biology!)

-explanation of how the data support or refute your original hypothesis

-where appropriate, results are compared with literature values

  • Evaluating Procedure(s)

-KEY limitations, weaknesses, or errors are identified and discussed (ex: “Some people touch their face a lot and other don’t. Every time a person touches their face they could be adding oil, dirt, or grease from their hands and this may add to more pores becoming clogged.”)  At least two!

(NOT trivial errors; ex: “We miscounted.”)

  • Modifying the Procedure(s)

-specific suggestions to correct at least two of the identified limitations are made to improve the investigation (DO NOT list “We’ll count better.” What would have made data collection or the procedure more precise and better overall?

Sample Grading Rubric for a Lab Write Up:

Lab Section / Number of Points
Title / 1
Research Question / 1-2
Hypothesis/ Explanation / 2
Variable Chart / 2-3
Detailed Procedure / 3
Data Tables / 5
Data Analysis / 5
Evaluation/Conclusion / 10
Approximate # of Total Points / 30