Experimental report scaffold
Name
Teacher
Title
This tells the reader what you wrote about.
For example: Food chains at the lake
Aim
The Aim is a simple statement that tells the reader what you going to investigate. It often starts out with a simple statement starting with "To". Do not use the first person "I".
For example:
To use the macroinvertebrates to judge the health of the lake.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is what you think will happen before you start and why.
For example:
The lake is a healthy environment because it has many pollution sensitive macroinvertebrates living there.
Method
In this section, write what you did as a series of logical steps, how you collected your information and the equipment that you used.
It is a procedural recount and is written in the past tense.
For example:
1 / A turbidity tube was used to measure turbidity.2 / A water sample was taken using a sample bottle away from the edge of the lake.
3 / The bottle was shaken.
4 / The water was then poured into a turbidity tube until the pattern on the bottom just disappeared.
5 / The water level was then read off the side of the tube and recorded.
List of equipment
Include a full list of the equipment required, using the correct scientific names (eg test tube, beaker), include any safety equipment required (eg goggles, gloves). Be specific about the equipment (10 cm pots, 250 mL beaker).
For example:
Equipment used:
A dip net, white tray, dropper, paint brush.
Replication
The experiment must be designed so that the method can be reproduced by other people and give the same result. Therefore, several replicates should be taken during the experiment.
Example:
The dip net was dipped into the lake 10 times. The temperature was taken three times.
Repetition
The fieldwork must be repeated several times. This increases the reliability of the experiment by reducing the chance of errors or an unusual result.
For example:
The entire experiment was repeated by six different schools over a year.
Risk assessment
Assess the dangers that may be involved in the experiment and describe how you are going to overcome them.
For example:
There are risks involved when going into the field. Sunburn can be prevented by using sunblock and wearing a hat. Keep to the two metre rule near the water. This means that unless you are taking a water sample stand at least two metres away from the edge. Avoid insect bites by using an insecticide. Be on the look out for snakes and spiders.
Analysis
Describe what you did to your raw data so that it could be analysed.
For example:
The numbers of macroinvertebrates were added up and graphed using Microsoft Excel.
Results
What happened? What did you observe? Write down your results and include any graphs that you did.
For example:
The following table shows the water quality of the lake.
Conclusion
The conclusion answers the aim. It is a summary of what occurred in the experiment. What do your results tell you? Look for any trends or patterns. You must decide if the hypothesis has been supported by the experiment.
For example:
The lake was found to be healthy because many pollution sensitive macroinvertebrates were found there. This supports the hypothesis.
Did anything go wrong during the experiment?
Suggest improvements for future experiments.
References and acknowledgement
List the references and people who gave assistance during the project. Use a standard reference system.
For example:
For books:
Smith JM. Tomatoes that changed the world, New York: Macmillan. 2005.
For journals and magazines:
Jones A. How to get your tomatoes flowering. Education Monographs, 2001.5,6:2-5.
For pamphlets
Australian Photonics, The how and why of optical fibres. Australian Photonics. Sydney
For websites
Learning Materials Production.2005. NSW Department of education and training, Sydney, viewed 20 March 2005 <www.lmpc.edu.au/Science/junior_science/project.htm>
For people:
Fred Bloggs, nurseryman
Do not include addresses or telephone numbers`, to protect the person’s privacy.
Appendix
Raw data can be placed in an appendix as well as any calculation used in the analysis of the data. It is also a good place for a logbook.
Macrobiotica 1