Name: _______________________________________________ Date: ________ Block: _______
Results and Discussion Write-Up (Research Grade)
Research Question: How does soaking basil seeds for varying amounts of time of time impact the
rate of germination?
Null Hypothesis: __________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Alternative Hypothesis 1: __________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Alternative Hypothesis 2: __________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Result Guidelines: Including summary of statistical analysis, tables, and graphs
SUMMARY: The Results section is a summary of the data/statistical tests in paragraph form and
should include the following items:

Topic Sentence

Identification of variables (IV and DV) and control group (if you had one)

Whether the data (DV) was qualitative or quantitative, explain why.

Descriptions of the inferential statistics performed and explain what it measured.
o What tests did you do? T-test, ANOVA, chi-square or correlation, etc

The null hypothesis (this means that the IV will have no impact on the DV)

State the null hypothesis and whether it was rejected or failed to be rejected based on the
calculated p-value.
Example statements:
o “The means of the experimental groups were significantly different (p<0.05).”
o “There was no statistically significant difference between the means of ____ and
_____ (p>0.05).”
TABLES:

Make a table of the statistics done

Columns and rows must be straight and neat (typed?).

Headings (with units) are required on all columns and rows.

Titles go above the table, typed in ALL CAPS
Example: TABLE 1: PLANT HEIGHT (cm) VERSUS LIGHT EXPOSURE.
GRAPHS:

Appropriate graphs: Line graph, histogram, box and whiskers, or bar graph. Line graphs
show trends or relationships. Bar graphs are used for comparison. Histograms help you to
visualize data distribution and the descriptive statistics.

The independent variable goes on the X-axis; the dependent variable goes on the Y-axis.
Label axes with names and units. Make sure that a key is included.

Titles go above the table, typed in ALL CAPS
Example: FIGURE 1: PLANT HEIGHT (cm) VERSUS LIGHT EXPOSURE.
Discussion Guidelines:

What was the purpose/significance of the experiment?

With supporting evidence from your data, explain if your null hypothesis was rejected or failed to
be rejected by using your p-value as well as additional descriptive statistics and experimental
observations.
Example:

“The means of the experimental groups were significantly different (P<0.05).”

“There was no statistically significant difference between the means of ___ & ___
(P>0.05).”

If the null hypothesis was rejected, explain how alternate hypothesis (es) may possibly explain this
statistical difference in the experimental groups. Remember, when explaining them to also restate
the hypothesis.

Give evidence for the claim (refer to the data and statistical tests). This is an important
explanation and the main purpose of the conclusion. Explain how the data support the claim.
Never leave it up to your reader to draw connections. Tell us the science behind why the
independent variables had this effect (or lack thereof) on the dependent variables.

Explain unusual results and/or possible errors in procedures and/or limitations of the experiment.
Talk about possible improvements based off the procedures your group created. What worked
and what didn’t work.

Further research questions that you could possible test later this year. These questions should be
based off what you learned and the content covered.
Reference in APA format
Include 2 sources other than your lab sheets and textbook must be cited in APA format. Use citation
machine at: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resources/560/07/