Skills of Scientific
Investigation
Types of Studies
2 Types of Studies

Controlled Experiment
• A researcher designs an experiment to look for a causeeffect relationship
• 1 variable is manipulated while another is monitored for
change
• Your paper towel lab
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Observational Experiment
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Observations are made without direct influence
Relationships can be determined, but not cause-effect
Ex: “How does a person’s age relate to their height?”
Ex: “How long does it take the Moon to go through its
phases?”
The Process
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Both types of studies follow the same
steps:
• Planning & Initiating
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Designing the experiment
Crafting a hypothesis
• Performing & Recording
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Carry out the experiment
Make observations
• Analyzing & Evaluating
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Analyze the observations
See if your questions was answered
• Communicating
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A LAB REPORT!!!
Why Create a Report?
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To keep a record for yourself
To neatly track all your observations
and results
***To share your findings with other
scientists
Report Overview
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A report should…
• Be neat
• Be organized
• Contain all required sections
• Include ALL your observations and
calculations/analysis
• Have an appropriate title page
The Lab Report, Section by Section
Body of Report

Experimental Question or Problem
• What is it you are trying to determine?
• What are you testing?
• Example: “What is the best mark I can get on
a lab report?”

Hypothesis
• An education guess answering your
experimental problem
• Example: “I believe the best mark I can get is
90%.”
Body of Report
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Experimental Design
• A brief description of your procedure
• Include the variables used in your
experiment (independent, dependant,
and controlled)
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Materials
• List all the equipment you used in your
experiment
Body of Report

Procedure
• Step by step guide about your experiment

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Use numbers
Someone should be able to follow these steps and
perform the same experiment as you
• Write like a recipe:
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“Pour 100 mL of water on the paper towel”
Observations
• ALL the data that you recorded in a neat form
 consider using a data table
Body of Report
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Analysis and Conclusions
• Analyse your data

Consider using graphs, tables, etc.
• Draw conclusions and answer your initial
questions
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Discussion
• List some things that may have given you
errors (called source of error)
• Suggest improvements to your procedure to
get better results next time
Brief Review
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Question
• What are you testing?
Hypothesis
• What do you think is the answer BEFORE running the test?
Experimental Design
• What did you do, what are your variables?
Materials
• What equipment did you need?
Procedure
• What EXACTLY did you do?
Observations
• What did you observe?
Analysis & Conclusions
• What IS the answer to your question?
Discussion
• What could you do better next time?
What to do now???
1) Finish running your experiment if
you didn’t finish yesterday
2) Make sure you have a copy of your
observations
3) Create a lab report including all
sections
• Your complete, polished, lab report is
due at the beginning of class on
Monday