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.
- In this experiment the Moth and size of the container were control variables.
- The light intensity was the independent variable
- The amount of time the moth hit the container was the dependent variable
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:
- Appropriate scaling
- An appropriate title
- Appropriate labelling
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:
- Results
- Theory behind experiment
- Experimental design
- Improvements
- Etc…
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