7/17/2019 BGS Laboratory Report Format - April 2015

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SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION - LABORATORY REPORT FORMAT

TITLE

The title should be a brief and concise question about the main point of the experiment orinvestigation

INTRODUCTION

Background:  A description which identifies and explains the ‘science’ involved in theinvestigation and the reason for undertaking the investigation.

 Aim:  A clear and relevant statement indicating what is to be investigated and why.

Hypothesis:  A prediction about the results of an investigation based on previous knowledge.Ideally written as an “if then and because! statement which identifies theindependent dependent and controlled variables.Reminder:  Controlled: quantity that remains constant or unchanged throughout the

experiment - “What I keep the same”   Independent: quantity changed by the Scientist - “What I change” 

ependent: quantity obser!ed or measured by the Scientist - “What I

obser!e or measure” 

METHODOLOGY

Materials:  A list of the chemicals and e"uipment used in the experiment.#uantities$si%es$volumes should be mentioned eg. &'(m) beaker 

Method:  A list of the steps you followed to do the experiment. *cientific diagrams can be used to show how e"uipment was set up.

The method must be clear enough so that anyone reading the report would

be able to repeat the experiment.

Risks S!"et#$  A list of *afety precautions including the management of relevant risks egstudents must wear a lab coat and safety glasses.

RESULTS

+resentation of accurate %e!su&e%ents and o'se&(!tions made during the investigation. ,raphs and tables should be used to appropriately display data - according to scientific

conventions.

bservations must be recorded as complete sentences. “/aw data! should be included as an appendix.

0allarat ,rammar *cience 1epartment2 April &(3'

7/17/2019 BGS Laboratory Report Format - April 2015

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.

DISCUSSION

 A comprehensive and accurate !n!)#sis and e(!)u!tion of the results and what they indicate.This section can also include4  An explanation of the data including the identification of any ‘outliers’

 Any difficulties experienced during the investigation including an evaluation of theprocedure

*ources of error 

Ideas for improving the experiment

5xplanation of the link between the investigation findings and relevant scientific concepts

1iscussion sections often contain ‘guided "uestions’. /esponses to these "uestions shouldinclude4  A statement which answers the "uestion

 An explanation of any science ideas and concepts

 An explanation of the relationship or link between the science concept and the "uestion

/elevant data from the investigation

The discussion should be written using *o%+)ete senten*es and appropriate s*ienti"i* )!n,u!,e!n *on(entions.

CONCLUSION

The conclusion is a statement providing a ‘6ustified’ response to the "uestion being investigated7what you found out during the experiment based on the results you collected8. It must relate back

to the !i% and state whether your /#+ot/esis was accepted$supported or re6ected$unsupported.

REFERENCES AND AC0NO1LEDGMENTS

 A list of references used throughout the investigation. 

THINGS TO NOTE$

)aboratory reports should be presented in the order above.

Ideally reports should be written in the third person 79 me I they etc.8

1escriptive responses should be detailed 0:T concise

0allarat ,rammar *cience 1epartment2 April &(3'