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When you make an amazing discovery in science, you have to tell your fellow scientists, but you can’t just tell them over the phone or face to face. No, you need to write it up in a scientific report.

This is so that all your data, procedures and explanations are in an easy to read format.  

When creating an experiment you always have 3 variables.

Your Control variables, Independent variable and Dependant variable.

Control variables

Your control variables are those that are kept the exact same throughout the experiment.

Independent variable

Your independent Variable is the intentionally changed by the experimenter.


Dependent variable

The dependent variable is the thing we are looking for.

A scientist wants to see if the brightness of light has any effect on a moth being attracted to the light.

He sets up an experiment with one moth in a large container and a light with a dimmer switch.

He recorded the amount of times the moth ran into the side of the container for 2 minutes, when the light was at 100% intensity, 50% intensity and 0% intensity.

For example

When plotting this data on a graph, the Dependant variable goes on the Y axis and the Independent on the X axis.

Remember, when creating a graph always use:


When conducting an experiment, results can either be Quantitative or Qualitative.


Quantitative

This a form of data which can be measured and written with numbers.

For example, if you are observing a change in temperature that would be quantitative, as it can be written at 27.4 degrees Celsius

Or

If you are observing a change in height you can measure it in mm, cm or meter.

Qualitative

This data is described. Words are used to quantify the data.

For example, if you present someone with a picture of a puppy, you might get them to circle their answer as, very happy or very sad.

Or

If you were observing the smells of different coffee beans your might use strong to weak.

Report


Aim

The goal of the experiment

Hypothesis

What results you expect to see

Materials

Equipment you used in the experiment

You may be required to draw your materials. (Click here to learn how to do scientific drawings)

Method

Step by step instructions and often a diagram of equipment

Results

The results of the experiment, often in a table or graph

Label graphs, tables or images as Graph__, table __ or figure __. This allows you to easily refer back to a specific piece of data during your discussion.

Discussion

Answer set questions about the experiment in relation to:

Conclusion

An answer to the question you set out to investigate Look back at the aim.

When writing the report it is important too write in 3rd person. Avoid words like I, me, we, you, my and our.

Don’t forget to put your Name on your assignment

Click here for a quick quiz