Biology Lab Report Reference Guide

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Biology Lab Report Reference Guide
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Step 1 - PROBLEM

• Poor example What fertilizer is the best?
• Clearly state the problem that you are trying
  to solve. Be as specific as you can.
• Good ExampleWhich fertilizer, Miracle Grow or
  VitaGro is best for growing a particular species
  of roses?

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• RESEARCH Every good scientist spends a great
  deal of time doing research so that he/she can
  design experiments that are meaningful and
  worthwhile. Research is not limited to the
  written word, but almost always involves
  communication with other scientists interested in
  the same topic. This collaboration is of utmost
  importance in the research community. You will
  need to use many references to learn about the
  problem you are tying to solve.

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• Possible questions you would need to research
  about the Good problem stated above
• What does Miracle Grow contain?
• What does VitaGro contain?
• How fast do roses grow?
• What type of soil do roses like?
• Has this product ever been used on roses?
• What kind of nutrients do roses like?
• Do roses grow best is sun or shade?
• Do roses grow best is warm or cold climates?
• What kinds of roses are there?
• When do roses bloom?

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Step 2 - HYPOTHESIS

• Now that you know what your experiment is,
  what do you think will happen?
• Poor Example I think the fertilizer will help
  the plants. I think that the roses will grow
  better with fertilizer
•  Good Example If I use Miracle Grow instead of
  no fertilizer, then the flowers with Miracle Grow
  will produce more flowers compared to the one
  without miracle grow.

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Questions to Consider when Designing an Experiment

• What organisms will I use?
• How many organisms should I use?
• What equipment will I need?
• How will I set up my experiment?
• What data will I measure?
• What will be the manipulative variable?
• What will be the responding variable?
• Will I need a control set up?
• How long will the experiment last?
• How will I display my data? (data table, graph?)

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DETERMINE the VARIABLES

• Variables (in general) the parts of an
  experiment that could vary or CHANGE.
• 1. Independent Variable (the cause)
• Dependent Variable (the effect)
• Controlled Variables or Constants (stay the same)
• Controlled Set up vs. Experimental Set up
• Sample size determine amount needed for an
  accurate conclusion

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Step 3 PROCEDURE ( MATERIALS)

• Make sure that materials are very specific
• Poor Example Roses, soil, water, fertilizer
• Good Example
• 1. 150 red rose plants (same species) each 2
  feet tall
• 2. 150 identical 5 gal buckets with 3 holes in
  the bottom
• 3. 10 bags of Home Depot brand potting soil (20
  lbs.)
• 4. Miracle Grow fertilizer
• 5. VitaGrow fertilizer
• 6. Water
• 7. Graduated cylinder to measure water
• 8. Grow lights or green house
• 9. Yard stick

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Procedure

• Your procedure should be written in such a way
  that any person using it could get identical
  results.

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Procedure

• Poor Example
• 1.Plant roses, some with fertilizer, some
  without
• 2.Water roses
• 3.Set plants under grow light
• 4.Count number of flowers

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• GoodExample
• 1. Fill 150 buckets with potting soil to
  within one inch of the top.
• 2. Plant one plant in each bucket so that
  all of its roots are covered with potting soil.
• 3. Water each plant with 1 liter of tap water.
• 4. Divide the plants into 3 equal groups of 50
  plants each, groups A, B and C

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Step 4 - DATA

• Decide what DATA to collect Gathering data
  accurately is one of the most important jobs of a
  scientist. Often things that seem unimportant at
  the time may later turn out to be quite
  significant.
• When designing an experiment, you must decide
  what and how you are going to collect the data.
  What will you measure. When will you measure it?
  How will you display the data once it is
  collected? Be sure to write it specifically in
  the procedures.
• Typically the independent variable comes first
  in the data table followed by the dependent
  variable.

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Types of Data

• A. OBSERVATIONAL DATA Often when experiments
  extend over a period of time,it is important to
  describe in words anything that seems
  significant. This may involve routine, daily or
  weekly descriptions in a journal format.
• Ex Week 1 No roses have flowered yet, not
  many leaveshave emerged yet
• Week 2 I noticed that the roses in groups A
  and B are producing many more leaves that Group C
  plants are. Still no flowers on any plants.

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• B. NUMERIC DATA Numerical data must be
  displayed in a data table. The DATA TABLE should
  have a Title, and be carefully labeled. You must
  use a Straight Edge to draw your table

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Good vs. Bad Data Tables
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Graphing Data

• Each graph should have a title that describes
  what the graph is about
• When graphing data, the independent variable
  always goes on the X axis, and the dependent
  variable always goes on the Y axis. .
• Each axis of the graph should be marked off in
  equal units and properly labeled.
• In general, use a line graph when both axes are
  the set of real numbers. Ex. Time, temperature,
  height, weight.
• In general, use a bar graph when one or both of
  the axes are not the set of real numbers. Ex.
  Different kinds of roach spray, people.

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Step 5 - Conclusion

• -Restate your hypothesis.
• -State if your hypothesis was correct or
  incorrect.
• -Answer your problem in a complete sentence.
  (Always look back at your purpose (problem) to be
  sure you answer the right question).
• -PROVE your answer to your problem. Use ACTUAL
  DATA from your experiment to support your answer.
  This makes you more credible.
• -Restate your findings as a concluding thought.

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Conclusion

• SOURCES OF ERROR Every time that you do an
  experiment, errors may occur. It is more
  important that you identify errors that you think
  could have affected the conclusion that you drew.
  
• Poor Example I didnt always measure accurately.
  Some plants may have gotten a little more water
  that the others. We had a lot of cloudy days
  which meant less light.
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• Good Example It was discovered
  that in the green house, some of the plants were
• shaded for part of the day while others got
  full sun. Those that got
• full sun produced more flowers.
• Some of the plants became infested with tiny
  insects. These plants did not produce as many
  flowers as the others. Perhaps we should spray
  with an insecticide.
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