Scientific Inquiry Process

Steps to the Scientific Inquiry Process

In other words, how to write a lab report!

I.  Forming a Question or Hypothesis

A.      TITLE

*Write a descriptive title that explains the topic of the experiment.

B.      BACKGROUND INFO/OBSERVATIONS

*In at least one paragraph (4 or more sentences) explain in your own words what you already know about this topic (Ex: “I know heat rises”).

*Include explanations of terms and ideas related to the topic (explaining it to someone else!).

C.      RESEARCH QUESTION

*Write the question your experiment is trying to answer (How does the ____ affect the ____)?

D.      HYPOTHESIS

*Write what you think the answer to your research question will be and why (If, then, because).

*Once you write your hypothesis, DON’T CHANGE IT!   

II.  Designing an Investigation

E.      MATERIALS

*Make a bulleted list of all the equipment and materials in the lab.

F.      PROCEDURES

*List a general plan for the experiment with important details in short, numbered steps (1, 2, etc.).

*Only list procedures for your experiment which are safe and ethical avoiding the use of “I/we”.

*Plan to collect at least 3 data points and take an average of those points.

*Always use the metric system for all measurements.

III.  Collecting and Presenting Data

G.        DATA TABLE/OBSERVATIONS

*Make a data table that neatly labels and displays the information from your experiment, including a title for your table and all metric units.

*Perform your experiment and enter data in your data table.

*Write down observations as you perform the experiment (Ex: “I notice that when...”).

H.        GRAPH/CHART

*Select a graph type that is best to show your data clearly (line graph, bar graph, or pie chart).

*Use the data from your data table to create a graph.

*Chart your independent variable on the x-axis and the dependent variable on the y-axis.

*Write on your graph a title, labels & metric units on axes, and correct intervals.

IV.  Analyzing and Interpreting Data

I.       CONCLUSION (“A good conclusion can be understood on its     own!”)
*Restate and answer your research question (Paraphrase in past tense)

      a. The purpose of this experiment was to. . .

      b. It was predicted that. . . . (restate your hypothesis)

*Describe patterns on your graph and explain what you think caused them using scientific knowledge and vocabulary.

      c. The data revealed that. . . (use your actual data for this examples/observations)      

                   and/or

 The evidence that supports this answer is. . . (use your actual data for this,                   examples/observations) 

d. Therefore, the hypothesis/prediction must be . . . (accepted/rejected)

*Describe any possible errors (mistakes made during the experiment) or limitations (something that was out of your control that may have affected your experiment) and where they might have come from (Ex: “We made an error when we accidentally spilled water” or “a limitation was that the stopwatch didn’t start or stop exactly when we pushed the button”).

e. If I did this experiment again, I would. . .  because

f. This experiment relates to real life because. . .