IB Biology Practical Guide to Writing Lab Reports

Introduction
o The justification given for choosing the research question and/or the topic under investigation
demonstrates personal significance, interest or curiosity.
o There is evidence of personal input and initiative in the designing, implementation or
presentation of the investigation.
o The background information provided for the investigation is entirely appropriate and relevant
and enhances the understanding of the context of the investigation
Research Question (RQ)
o The first part of planning an experiment is writing a good research question that you will
investigate.
o A Good RQ will:
1. Include both dependent and independent variables
2. Be Quantitative if appropriate
3. Include the organism or tissue investigated
Hypothesis
o A hypothesis is a statement that addresses the RQ and makes a prediction about what will
happen.
o A Good Hypothesis will:
1. Be written in an If. . ., then. . ., because. . . format.
2. (If the [independent variable] [does something], then the [dependent variable] will [do
something as a result], because [explanation].)
3. Include both dependent and independent variables
4. Be Quantitative if appropriate
5. Be Testable (Falsifiable)
6. Relate to the RQ
7. Be explained
Variables
o Variables are the different parts of your experiment that are able to change from one
experiment to another. In order to perform a fair test it is important to make sure that we
control as many variables as possible in order to gain accurate data.
o A Good Variables list will:
1. Include the Independent variable the variable you change
2. Include the Dependent variable the variable that changes as a result of the
independent variable
3. Include other Controlled variables (constants?) and why we need to
4. Identify the control (controlled variables are things we need to keep constant in each
experiment)

Control of Variables
o Part of methods section of a lab is to include how you will control the variables, not simple
what the variables are as listed above. It is possible to list the variables in the method
section or to list them in their own section before materials and methods. If this is the case
you will still need to discuss HOW you will control them in the methods section.
o A Good Control of Variables section will:
1. Specify how the measurements will be collected.
2. Specify how the other variables will be controlled.
3. Make sure that each variable in the list is mention
Apparatus and Materials
o Includes the necessary equipment and materials to control and measure the variables listed
in Aspect 1. Should be in its own section separate from Method.
o A Good Apparatus and Materials List will:
1. Indicate the correct materials for each variable
2. Indicate the precision of measurements:
500 ml beaker, instead of just beaker
Thermometer (0-100) instead of just Thermometer
1 meter stick or 100 cm ruler not just ruler
3. Can include an annotated diagram, but not necessary
Methods to Collect Sufficient and Relevant data
o Includes a numbered series of steps to control all variables and collect sufficient and relevant
data. It is important when planning an experiment to think about the RANGE and SIZE of
measurements as well as how many REPLICATES of the experiment you will do. This is part
of the methods section. Should be in its own section separate from Apparatus and Materials
o A Good Methods section will:
1. Include all steps necessary to complete the experiment (even the obvious onesthink
about your grandma)
2. Include how and when to take measurements or record observations
3. Address an appropriate RANGE of intervals or measurements.
i.e. temperature from 0-10 or 0-100 or 50-100, etc
4. Address the SIZE of intervals or measurements
i.e. what units of time will be used, or how long will the experiment run, etc
5. Indicates how many times the experiment will be REPLICATED
i.e. how many times should you do the experiment?
6. Makes sure that relevant data is able to be collected
Collecting and recording raw data
o Data collection skills are important in accurately recording observed events and are critical to
scientific investigation. Data collection involves all quantitative or qualitative raw data.
Qualitative data is defined as things being observed with more or less unaided senses (color,
change of state, etc.) or rather crude estimates (hotter, colder, brighter, etc). Quantitative
data involves some measurement.

o A Good Data Collector will:

1. Record all appropriate data
2. Pay attention to detail
3. Include units for all measurements
4. Include uncertainties of the instruments used
Rules for data table construction
o It is important when presenting data that is done in an effective and easy to read format.
There are more than one ways to make a table, but you should always follow convention
when making your tables.
o A Good Data Table will have:
1. A descriptive title
2. Headings with units, no units in body of table
3. Independent variable in the left hand column
4. Dependent variable across the top
Uncertainties in all measurements
o Whenever we make a measurement we do so with some error or uncertainty. We cannot
make exact measurements, therefore it is important to indicate what level of uncertainty there
may be. This should be done in the headings after the units are given.
o Uncertainties are calculated as:
1. of the smallest unit measurable by the instrument. For example, a thermometer
that is graded to 1C has an uncertainty of 0.5C
2. 1 unit of length ( x 2 measurements)
3. Digital devices the smallest unit

Data Processing
o Data processing means that you are actually converting the data into another form. Putting
numbers into a table is not data processing!
o A Good Data Processing section will:
1. Show the formula you used, even if it seems simple
2. Include processes such as
-means
-standard deviations
-% differences
-Statistical tests
- t-test
- ANOVA test
- X2 (Chi-squared) test

Data Presentation
o Data presentation is not always necessary to every lab. You must evaluate if the data you
collected is able to be graphed. [Hint: basically all quantitative data can be collected]
o A Good Data Presentation section will:
1. Use the appropriate graph type
o continuous variable best line or scatter graphs
o discontinuous variable bar graphs
o parts of a whole pie charts
2. Have a descriptive title
3. Have appropriate headings with units on both axis
4. Have clear labels or a key if more than one data set is present on one set of axis
5. Have clearly marked and appropriate units
6. Have points clearly located and marked
o
Conclusion:
o A conclusion is not simply a restatement of the problem. It requires thought and analysis of
the relevant data collected and presented.
o A Good Conclusion will:
1. Refer back to the RQ and hypothesis. Remember, you CAN NOT prove your
hypothesis right. You can support it, or disprove it, but you cannot prove anything!
2. Be explained with reference to data analysis and literature values [translation: dont
say something that is not in your data!]
o Give the quantitative relationship between variables where appropriate linear,
exponential, inverse, positive, negative, not it changed, we can see that! Say
how it changed!
o Compare results with text book or other literature values
Evaluation:
o Most difficult part! You are not being judged as person, so dont take the defensive and try
and justify your mistakes! Be honest, and think hard about what you could have done better.
o A Good Evaluation will:
1. Identify sources of error in method and measurement
2. Identify limitations in method [whether or not you chose it or not] and data collection
Improvements:
o After you identify possible sources of error in your experiment it is necessary to provide
realistic methods to improve on your experiment.
o A Good Improvements section will:
1. Address each of the possible sources of error in the investigation and cite methods
that could be used to fix them

Words not to use

The temperature changed, therefore it changed too, which proves my hypothesis to be correct.
1. Change dont say the temperature changed, or the graph changed. Use increase or decrease,
or another qualitative statement.

2. It, They, Them use nouns. It doesnt matter if you say the same thing 100 times! This is not
English class.
3. Prove You cant prove anything. You can only support your hypothesis.