This document outlines the key components and structure of a scientific lab report. It discusses the importance of identifying independent, dependent, and controlled variables in experiments. The proper sections of a lab report are described, including the title, abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, references, and appendix. Key details are provided on writing hypotheses, procedures, analyzing and presenting data in tables and figures, and drawing conclusions. Proper experimental design, documentation, and communication of results are emphasized.

1. Scientific
Investigations
SNC1D
Ms. Woodley

2. Skills of Scientific
Investigation
• Scientists use experimentation to look at the
cause and effect relationships of various
variables
• They design their experiments to see if the
change in one variable causes something else
to vary in a predictable way

3. Variables

4. • Quantities that are changed are called variables
• There are usually three different kinds:
• Independent Variable: deliberately changed by the
scientists. As they change this variable they observe
what happens
• Dependent Variable: what changes in response to
the different independent variables. The results of the
dependent variable are caused by and depend on
the independent variables
• Controlled Variables: the variables that the scientist
wants to remain constant

5. • For Example: If you are using different colours of
light (independent variable) to grow a bean
plant, the height of the bean plant (dependent
variable) changes in response to the colour of
light. The amount of air, water, soil, and space
(controlled variable) is the same for each plant.

6. Testable Questions must…
• be answerable through scientific inquiries such
as controlled experiments and observational
studies
• be answered by collecting and analyzing data to
produce evidence

7. • Questions with a controlled experiment must be answered with a
possible answer called a prediction or with a scientific explanation
called a hypothesis
• a prediction & hypothesis must be done in the “If... then...”
format
• Example:
• PREDICTION:
• If more fertilizer is used, then the grass will grow best.
• HYPOTHESIS:
• If more fertilizer is used, then the grass will grow best because
fertilizers have nutrients that enhance plant grow.

8. Materials
• Materials used in experiment must be outlined in
a list
• You must use the proper names for all
equipment

9. Procedure
• Lab procedure must be written in impersonal past tense with a
passive voice.
• Example:
• 1. Lab equipment was collected from the cart and placed on
the lab bench.
• 2. 10 mL of water was measured using a 50 mL graduated
cylinder.
• 3. The scoopula was used to collect a pea-sized amount of salt.
• 4. The salt was place in the graduated cylinder filled with 10 mL
of water.

10. Observations/Results
• Observations made can be…
• quantitative (numbers that can be measures) or qualitative
(descriptive)
• table or graph format; all tables and graphs MUST have a
caption to explain what they are
• drawing; also must have a caption for explain
• Quantitative - numerical observation based on measurement or
counting
• Qualitative - describes the object or events (non-numerical)

11. Analysis and Evaluation
• analyze the data collected and try to interpret the
results
• create a conclusion to your experimental question
• state whether your prediction/hypothesis is
correct
• determine any errors that could have been made
during the experiment by analyzing the data

12. Proper Order for your
Report

13. Title Page
• You must have a title page for your report
• see the details for an APA title page in the PPT
for APA Citations on Owlwise

14. Abstract
• at the beginning of the lab report it is a concise summary (usually 1
paragraph of 200-400 words) of your experiment
• includes information about:
• the purpose of the experiment
• the problem being addressed
• the methods used for solving the problem
• overall results from the experiment
• and the conclusion drawn from your experiment.
• After the abstract should be a list of keywords, terms & concepts,
that pertain to your experiment

15. Introduction
• gives background information and states the purpose of your
experiment
• background information gives the context for your experiment,
and the purpose is a short statement of why the experiment
was performed
• Your hypothesis should also be included, as well as a brief
statement about how you intend to test your hypothesis.
When writing your hypothesis, always provide support for your
prediction (e.g., “If...then...because...").
• ALL INFORMATION THAT IS NOT COMMON
KNOWLEDGE MUST BE CITED IN APA FORMAT!

16. Materials
• a list of all materials
• must use the proper names for all equipment
that was used
• include amounts of materials that are consumed
in the lab as well (Ex. water, salt, etc.)

17. Methods (Procedure)
• Explains all the steps, in order, done to complete the
lab
• Must be specific enough that another person could
recreate the late successfully
• Use third person past tense passive voice (do not use
“I”)
• Don’t forget Safety Precautions for your experiment
(i.e. wear goggles, wear gloves, tie back long hair,
etc.)—this should before all of your steps

18. Results
• use both graphs/tables/charts/diagrams and written words
to describe what you observed
• graphs/tables/diagrams need to have a proper label
• Tables: Table 1: Descriptive title of what it contains
• Diagrams/Graphs: Figure 1: Descriptive title
• third person past tense again
• Remember that all diagrams should be large and clear and
labelled properly (see note in your handout on drawings)

19. Discussion/Conclusion
• where you summarize what happened in your experiment.
• You will want to fully discuss and interpret the information.
What did you learn? What were your results? Was your
hypothesis correct, why or why not? Were there any
errors? If there is anything about your experiment that you
think could be improved upon, provide suggestions for
doing so.
• The conclusion should be a brief statement of what the
results of the experiment have told you in light of the
original purpose. A conclusion is a concise statement
which emphasizes the most important results.

20. References
• References should be used to provide
background information, as well as to support
hypotheses.
• All references used should be included at the
end of your lab report in a list in APA format, and
in-text citations should be used where
appropriate.

21. Appendix (Appendices)
• This section is for any raw data that has been
used to create graph/tables
• Or additional data that was collected but not
necessarily used
• If you do not have any of this for your lab still
include a page with the Appendix title to indicate
that you know there should be one but you did
not need one