1. The Final Report

2.  Once scientists arrive at conclusions, they need to communicate their findings to others.  In most cases, scientists report the results of their research activities in scientific journals in a rather standard scientific paper format.

3. A SCIENTIFIC PAPER usually includes the following parts:  Title  Introduction,  Materials  Methods,  Results  Discussion,  Conclusion,  References.

4. Introduction  The introduction has two functions:  1) to provide the context for your investigation and  2) to state the question asked and the hypothesis tested in the study.

5.  Begin the introduction by reviewing background information that will enable the reader to understand the objective of the study and the significance of the problem.  Relating the problem to the larger issues in the field.  Include only information that directly prepares the reader to understand the question investigated.

6.  Most ideas in the introduction will come from outside sources, such as scientific journals or books.  All sources of information must be referenced and included in the References section of the paper.

7. Most importantly  The introduction must be in your own words.  Refer to the references when appropriate  Include the question/aim and hypothesis that you finally investigated.  Include your prediction here.

8. Materials:  List all items needed to carry out your experiment.  If chemicals are required you must include the amount required as well as the concentration required.  Make sure you use correct scientific names for equipment.

9. Method:  How will you set up your experiment?  How many experimental groups will you have?  How will you measure the effect you wish to study?  How long will the experiment last?  These and any other methods should be explicitly stated or referenced so that a reader has all the information they need to know to be able to repeat your experiment and verify your results.

10. Controls:  Identify the relevant control(s) treatment.  Think about the variable(s) you are manipulating.  Your control needs to be held under natural, or unmanipulated conditions, not affected by the tested variable.

11. Results  This section should include:  1) one or more paragraphs that describe the results,  2) figures (graphs, diagrams, pictures), and  3) tables.

12.  Here is where you show the data that you collected.  Raw data is to be recorded in your journal.  This can be included in appendix in the final report or referenced directly from your journal.

13. Tables and graphs  Results are usually shown in tables or graphs (figures).  All Figures that are presented must have a caption or a title placed above it that describes its contents.  Tables and Figures are numbered consecutively throughout a lab report or scientific paper.  The title should give enough information to allow the table to be understandable apart from the text.  You should also write a brief statement about the trends you see in your results.

14. Remember:  To refer to figures and tables within the paragraph as you describe your results, using the word Figure or Table, followed by its number, for example, "(Figure 1)."  If possible, place each figure or table at the end of the paragraph in which it is cited.  Include any statistical analysis in the Results section.

15.  Do not discuss the meaning of your results in this section.

16. Discussion  This section is of major importance. You should critically examine (analyse and interpret) the results of your experiment.  Do your results support your hypothesis?  Were your questions answered?  What new questions come to mind after examining the results?

17. Data interpretation  A well-designed experiment will produce mounds of data.  What will be done with the data once it is collected?  Data must be organized and summarized so that the scientist himself, and other researchers can determine if the hypothesis has been supported or negated.

18. Data Evaluations  Sort through it all, and organize it into a meaningful presentation of tables and/or graphs (figures).  Statistic analyses are often made to compare experimented and controlled populations.  Evaluate the data to determine whether or not it supports your hypothesis.

19. Findings  Should be stated in your discussion.  If the data supports your hypothesis, you are on to something meaningful.  If not, consider why, based on your knowledge of the system. Then it is back to the drawing board-time to make another hypothesis.  Perhaps you cannot trust your results due to some questionable procedures, and you should repeat the experiment.

20. Conclusion  This is a concise restatement of your findings.

21. Remember  Do not use the word prove in your conclusion.  Your results will support, verify, or confirm your hypothesis, or  they will negate, refute, or contradict your hypothesis; but the word prove is not appropriate in scientific writing

22.  Maybe you find you do not have enough information; collect more data from the same experiment, or design a new one to test the same hypothesis.  Or maybe your results bring up many exciting new questions that require you to do scores of new experiments to answer them!!!

23.  You should get the idea that whatever your conclusion is, it is never final.  You should always end up with new questions, with some components yet unresolved.

24. Remember  The more we know, the more we know how much more we do not know.

25. References:  Any published works (journals, books, websites) that you cite in your report should be listed in the reference section so that anyone reading your protocol can look that work up if they desire.  Referencing should be as outlined in the college diary (pages 12 – 14).