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Published byMadeleine Wilcox Modified over 9 years ago
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Conclusions
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At the end of a successful experiment, the experimenter should be able to form some conclusions about what was observed.
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Conclusions All conclusions should do three things: Summarize what was discovered (one sentence). State your specific results (include specific numbers or details your observations). Refer back to your hypothesis. Was it correct? More advanced conclusions may also: Discuss one’s level of confidence in their conclusion based on the sources of error they have identified.
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Example Mrs. Posca tested the effect of the amount of chocolate chips in cookies vs. How many were eaten per day. She predicted that her kids wouldn’t like all the sugar, so more chocolately cookies would be eaten less. Her observations are below: Cups of Chocolate Chips# of Cookies Eaten 14 26 37 410
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Example What would be an appropriate conclusion for Mrs. Posca to make? More chocolate chips in the cookies increases the number of cookies eaten. Only 4 of the cookies with the least chocolate chips were eaten compared to 10 of the cookies with the most chocolate chips. Her hypothesis that fewer chocolaty cookies would be eaten was incorrect. This could be because kids actually like sugar.
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Sources of Error Another part of a scientist’s analysis involves considering an experiment’s sources of error. This is where the scientist discusses other factors that may have affected the outcome of the experiment.
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Sources of Error A source of error should NOT be a mistake made by the experimenter. Ex: I spilled the chemicals. Ex: I measured the length wrong. It should be something that was difficult to control or account for while executing the PROCEDURE. It should be relevant and plausible.
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Examples Good sources of error: It was difficult to keep each trial the same because... The measuring device is difficult to hold/use/read precisely. Contamination or lack of 100% clean equipment. Bad sources of error: I broke the glassware. I wrote down the wrong numbers. Godzilla stepped on my experiment.
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