The aim of this document is to tell our students in detail the steps that they are expected to follow when writing a laboratory report for any of the science courses given at The International School of Panama. The students are expected to develop the ability to communicate the methodology used and the conclusions obtained from an experiment in a simple, clear, complete, and direct way.
During the science courses that you will take in our high school, you will do laboratory experiments that will help you to develop scientific skills. You will be asked to present good quality reports on these experiments. To learn how to write a laboratory report adequately is important for your future, since you will acquire the ability needed to write scientific articles, research papers, monographs, and also for your IB extended essays.
To learn the correct way for presenting a report is also important because this is the style used by scientists to communicate their findings to the scientific community; standard formats to write these documents are used so other persons can understand their work clearly.
In an effort to simplify things for you as much as possible, the teachers in the Science Department have decided to use exactly the same format for all laboratory work done in our high school. Students will have a portfolio for each of their science courses. All laboratory reports should be placed in order, in a separate section (Section 5) that will be named "Laboratory Reports". The lab guides and instructions given must be placed in section 4 of the portfolio under "Laboratory Guidelines and Instructions". Please refer to the science portfolio guidelines given to you in class for more details.
The first two pages of the Laboratory Reports Section of the portfolio will be used to make a "Table of Contents" that must contain:
- the title of each experiment
- the date in which the experiment was performed
- the number of the page in which each laboratory report begins.
Each experiment must start on a new page. The reports should be written so that another person, not familiar with the experiment, could easily be able to reproduce it. Reports may be typed using a computer, or they may be hand written using black or blue ink. Pencil can only be used to draw diagrams, illustrations, or graphs, if it is absolutely necessary.
For a report to be considered complete, the following sections must be included:
1.- Heading
2.- Introduction
3.- Experimental Method
4.- Observations
5.- Data Analysis
6.- Evaluation and Discussion
7.- Conclusion
8.- References/Bibliography
All reports must contain at least these parts. In some cases you may consider adding one or more sections, depending on the particular characteristics of the experiment. In any case, the sections outlined above are only the minimum acceptable. The contents of each one of them are described in the following lines.
1.- Heading: This is the first part of the report. It must contain at least the following information:
- the number of the experiment
- the title of the experiment
- the names of the students working with you
- the date in which the experiment was performed
2.- Introduction: This is the first section of the body of the report. It needs to be clearly and precisely written, and must contain the following information:
- the purpose of the experiment; this must be a clear statement containing the aim of the experiment and its importance
- a clear statement of the problem(s)/research question being addressed
- a brief explanation of the main concepts involved (background information)
- if applicable, any equations that are relevant to the experiment
- a sound hypothesis based on your background information, adequately
justified.
All these must be written in paragraph form.
3.- Experimental Method: This section should include:
- a brief statement on how the experiment will achieve its purpose
- a diagram or illustration of the apparatus/setup used
- the procedure, which should be a clear, brief explanation of how the experiment will be performed, containing only the most relevant details needed to accurately repeat the experiment, emphasizing any special procedures or precautions that must be necessary. This explanation must include the variables that you will use in your experiment, and the methods for both the control of variables and the collection of data, and the materials and reactants used. This section must be written in paragraph form. The materials should not be listed, but included as part of the explanation.
4.- Observations: This part should include:
- the data obtained properly organized (tables are recommended), clearly labeled, written with the correct amount of significant figures, and with units included
- any descriptive observations made.
5.- Data Analysis: This section must contain:
- the graphical representation of the data (if applicable)
- all the calculations performed with their corresponding explanation, including error computations.
The correct number of significant figures must be used for all calculations. Graphs should be plotted as neatly as possible, labeling axes correctly and including units. An example of a graph is given at the end of this document. If possible, error bars should be included in the graphs.
6.- Evaluation and Discussion: In this section the significance of the experimental results should be explained and analyzed. The following guidelines will be of help.
- Explain what happened, why, how, and the meaning of what happened for each of the results obtained.
- Discuss if the results obtained are as expected, why or why not.
- Possible sources of error should be evaluated here with a brief description of how the experiment could be improved.
- A comparison between your results and the accepted values (if applicable), and/or between your results and the results obtained by some of your classmates should also be given. Discuss any similarities or differences found.
- Evaluate the procedure (Was it good for the purpose? Was the equipment used appropriate?)
- The answers to any questions in the laboratory guide must be included in this section, but in paragraph form, as part of your discussion.
7.- Conclusion: This must be a brief summary of your findings, in which you state (1) if the results obtained were as expected, (2) if the hypothesis was right or wrong and why , and (3) a brief statement on what was proven in the experiment.
8.- Bibliography: This part is important because it will be a source of information for anyone interested in the problem on which you have performed the experiment. The guidelines used, and at least one more source (like your textbook or any other book you have used for reference) must be included. The format that will be adopted for our science courses is the following:
If you are listing a book:
Author’s Last Name, First Name Initials (If there are more than one author, write the initial of the first name of each, followed by their respective last names. For references having more than two authors, write et al. after the name of the first author). Title of the book, edition, publisher, place, year of publication.
If you are listing an article:
Author’s Last Name, First Name Initials (If there are more than one author, write the initial of the first name of each, followed by their respective last names. For references having more than two authors, write et al. after the name of the first author). Title of the article. Name of the journal or magazine in which the article appears, volume, page number(s), year of publication.
You will find next an example on how to present a graph properly. This is by no means the only way of doing it, but it contains all the elements needed. Notice that a title, a scale, and labels on each axis are included. This is the form in which your graphs are expected to be presented.
Evaluation
Laboratory guides will be given in advance, so the first three parts of your report must be done by the day in which the data will be taken in the laboratory. This will ensure that when you come to the laboratory you will know something about the work to be performed. You are expected to be ready to ask any clarifying questions about the laboratory procedures.
All students are expected to hand in their laboratory reports on the date specified by your instructor. The instructor may deduct 10 points (out of 100) for every day past the due date. The reports will be marked individually. Points will be distributed as follows:
FORM
10 points - Completeness (all relevant sections presented, including references),
presentation and neatness.
CONTENT
10 points - Introduction (correctly written, must be done in advance)
10 points - Experimental Method (correctly written, must be done in advance)
15 points - Observations (data adequately written, including labels, correct use of significant
figures,etc.)
15 points - Data Analysis (graphs correctly drawn, calculations with their appropriate
explanations, units, significant figures, etc.)
20 points - Evaluation and Discussion ( adequate and complete analysis of the results and
observations, possible sources of error, error comparison, relevant personal
commentaries about the experiment, etc.)
10 points - Conclusion (written following all guidelines given)
10 points - Performance during the experiment (individual work, group work, general behavior during the laboratory session)
The total number of points obtained will be transformed to a percent. After this, points for handing in late will be deducted (if applicable).
The practical work done in all IB courses will be assessed following the International Baccalaureate criteria for internal assessment, which follows:
Planning (a): Defined problem(s)/research question(s); formulated hypothesis; selected any relevant variables.
Planning (b): Designed realistic procedures to include appropriate apparatus, materials, methods for both control of the variables and collection of data.
Data Collection: Observed and recorded raw data with precision and presented them in an organized way (using a range of appropriate scientific methods and techniques.
Data Analysis: Transformed, manipulated and presented raw data in a variety of appropriate ways, to provide effective communication.
Evaluation: Evaluated the result(s) of experiment(s) and evaluated the procedure(s); suggested modifications to the procedure(s), were appropriate.
Manipulative Skills: Carried out a range of techniques proficiently with due attention to safety; followed instructions.
Personal Skills (a): Worked within a team; recognized the contributions of others.
Personal Skills (b): Approached experiments/investigations with self-motivation and perseverance, and in ethical manner; paid due attention to environmental impact and showed respect and appreciation to living forms.
Neatness and Presentation: The written laboratory report is clearly and neatly presented.
