LAB WRITE UP FORMAT
Note: your lab write up should be neat and organized.
You may be instructed to formally type up your lab report.
TITLE: Give the investigation an appropriate title.
TESTABLE QUESTION: Will be provided by the teacher.
VARIABLES
Identify and list the experimental variables:
 Manipulated Variable – the variable that the experimenter changes (independent variable)
 Responding Variable – the variable that is being measured (dependent variable)
 Controlled Variables – at least 2 variables that will be kept constant throughout the investigation.
(controls)
PREDICTION/HYPOTHESIS (with reasoning) [If (Mv), then (Rv), because (reason).]
Before conducting the investigation, you should have thought about the testable question being investigated
and developed an idea of what you think will happen. In this section of the lab write up, state your
prediction/hypothesis of the experimental results using the following format: “If the [manipulated variable] . . . ,
then the [responding variable] will . . . , because . . .”
Note: “If, then” statements are considered the most appropriate in writing a hypothesis statement, but are not always
possible. If an “If, then” statement is not appropriate, use the following format: “It was hypothesized that…..”
METHODS: MATERIALS and PROCEDURES
If the materials and methods/procedures were provided for you in the book, briefly number them.
If you were asked to design your own investigation, you must include enough details so that another
person could replicate your experiment by reading your procedure. For example, write the experiment as if you
were leaving instructions for a seventh grader. You must include a list of materials (including consumables and
equipment), along with a detailed, step by step description of the methods/procedures to be followed. The
methods/procedures must be logical and thorough enough to be repeated. A fully labeled set-up diagram with the
necessary dimensions and distances should be shown. In every procedure include the direction to record all data
collected.
Be sure to include opportunities for REPEATED or MULTIPLE trials which aid in accuracy of
results/data. In addition, include VALIDITY MEASURES, which provide validity for your data. These include extras
like: resting between trials, washing and drying equipment, etc. Validity measures allow other individuals to
perceive your investigation as being “fair”.
RESULTS/DATA
This section will generally include one or more data tables, graphs and/or lists of observations that contain all the
information collected during the lab investigation. Sometimes, data are recorded as numbers; other types of data are
more easily written in words. If you are asked to use numerical data to create a table/graph, place the properly titled
and labeled table/graph in this section of the lab write up. Be sure to use appropriate scientific and/or metric units.
CONCLUSION
This section should be short and concise. It should answer the Testable Question. Include one or two sentences that:
 Answer the research question/ Conclusive statement.
 Summarize your results/data.
 To demonstrate that you understand your results, take the beginning and ending data. Also include any data that
does not seem to fit any pattern in the data.
 Explain what the data says about the answer to the testable question. Tell what the data means in terms of that
question and answer.