Laboratory Report

When a scientist performs an experiment, it is very important that he or she keep complete and accurate records. These records should include: how the experiment was done, what happened during the experiment and what conclusions can be drawn from the results.

The following is a general format for a lab report.

(Title on a Cover Page) The title should tell exactly what your experiment was about. Example: If you had done an experiment on counting heartbeats, the title "Studying Heartbeats" doesn't give enough information. "Measuring Human Heart Rate" is a better title. I also want you to include an illustration or drawing that represents the lab. Also put your: Name, Date, Period in lower right corner.

1. Question -This is the question your experiment tries to answer.

2. Hypothesis - This is the educated guess that you developed before doing the experiment. It predicts what you expected your experiment to show. Write the hypothesis in the If…..then format discussed in class. Example: If both boys and girls are tested for their reaction time by catching a meter stick, then the girls will have a faster reaction time

3. Materials- A list of what you used and how much is needed

4. Procedure - Steps taken to complete the experiment. It should be written like a recipe

and in numbered steps.

5. Data and Observations - This section tells exactly what you saw or measured during the experiment. The data should be in a data table (this is a convenient chart for keeping the data) and then graphed to get a "picture" of the data.

6. Analysis- These are statements you make about the data. What does the data tell you?

These statements might answer the question "What was the highest number ?"or "What was the lowest number?" Tell what that means

in relation to your hypothesis.

7. Conclusion- This is the answer to the question asked.

You should also state if the conclusion supported (agreed with) your hypothesis or not. Finally, what future experiments you would do or what improvements you would make in this experiment.