Pineda, Angel E.
PHYS 1201 LAB B
BSMET 1
Writing about Experiments
It is crucial to familiarize oneself with the proper processes in an experiment's
scientific method. Through experimentation, experiment skills become a natural language
in our brains. Furthermore, the experimenter must be committed to the study, or else the
study will appear unsubstantial and dull for other scientists to read. It is crucial to attract
attention and persuade others of the importance of your research; there are three key
points to follow based on Collin Cooke's book;
First, the objective of experiments is for scientists to communicate with their
language, compare ideas and brainstorm for the quality product of the study. Second, the
experimenter should not keep scientific research in the dark; instead, the experimenter
should introduce other scientists to compare results and gather reliable data. Last but not
least, as an experimenter, you should learn to appreciate others' research studies by
reading them on online sources or from excellent books on various aspects of the subject
for literature reviews and ideas.
In writing experiment reports, it comes in two different types of accounts;
laboratory report (informal, incomplete report and reminds what happened during
experiments) and scientific report (formal, complete report and polished for scientists to
read). Though it is incomplete, it should comprise of aims (objectives, research questions,
or hypothesis of the study), method (materials includes laboratory apparatuses and
procedure), and results and analysis (consists of the inferences derived from experiments'
data in table or graph; considering errors), and conclusion (summary of the study, proving
and answering aims). Furthermore, the laboratory notebook serves as a scratch report and
does not require it to be written in English. On the other hand, in scientific writing, there
are additional contents for it to become complete and polished; abstract (concise
discussion of the content of the experiment), aims, introduction (background of the
investigation and must include in-text citations for the credibility of the idea), methods,
results, analysis, discussion (further explores possibilities to improve outcomes), and
conclusion.
Breaking down the content of the laboratory notebook and scientific report for
more precise and elaborate manner;
The first portion that the scientists and panel read to get a sense of the entire
scientific report is the abstract. A short, simple, and brief explanation of the experiment is
presented in the abstract. It should be between 100 and 200 words. It should have the
same precise information as the experiment's extended version and should pique the
reader's interest to continue reading the whole output.
The aim is the beginning of the experiment's planning regarding goals, objectives,
research questions, and hypotheses. Throughout the investigation, it will act as a
foundation and guidance. The experimenter should have a good idea of how the experiment
will end and entail. It is hard for the reader to comprehend the entire investigation if the
aims are ambiguous. Even though this section will be flawed on the first attempt, there are
chances for improvement as long as the primary goals are brief and clearly defined.
The introduction is a part that explains the study's backdrop. Read other people's
scientific reports on the experiment to collect reliable information for the introduction.
Swap reports with others if feasible to improve the concept by checking the quality and
dependability of each other's work and criticizing each other's work.
This is how the experiment was carried out under the method section. The
experiment's process is explained in complete step by step. In addition, the materials and
laboratory equipment required to carry out the investigation and the essential precautions
and limitations to get accurate experimental results. There is a chance of 1% data error in
physics experiments owing to particular conditions, whether it is due to human mistakes or
systematic instrument errors. It is advised to get the help of other researchers to avoid
making mistakes. Despite errors, practice statistical procedures such as mean average and
standard deviation to get true value of quantitative data.
The results of an experiment are generally presented in the form of a graph or a table.
There are three types of metrics to look for when writing results: value, unit, and random
error. In addition, columns, rows, and labels are thought of in advance while designing a
table for results. This will ensure that the data for analysis is appropriately organized.
There will be corrections and omissions made, and the experimenter should use colored
pens in the laboratory notebook to indicate distinctions, using a trial and error process and
repeated sometimes.
It will be easy to use statistics to analyze the data. The data are examined graphically
to see correlations (linear equation) in the analysis. In addition, to estimate errors on both
slope and intercept, a linear equation is used to fit a straight line to linear data. Thus, it is
easier to draw inferences through the graph.
Although the results were acceptable, it would be wiser to look into and research
additional options for improving the experiment. Recommendations for other prospective
experimenters are offered in the discussion section. This includes ideas that will help the
study and make it progress.
Finally, the conclusion should answer and demonstrate the questions and objectives
outlined in the aim section. In addition, make a statement about the omitted mistakes and
units, stating that they are vital to the study's development. This allows for a comparison of
the theoretical and experimental value of the data collected via experimentation.
Questions
1. What concepts in the material are you already familiar with? Explain how you have
applied those concepts in the past?
I am already familiar with the concepts in Chapter 2 of Collin Cooke’s book. During
our study in high school, we have a research subject where we will follow the scientific
method and apply the sections included in Chapter 2 in the write-up. We are also obliged to
have a laboratory notebook written in our native language as long as it is neat and
consistent with the scientific report. I can say it became a skill and permanent knowledge I
acquired in high school to write scientific reports and laboratory notebooks. I carry that
skill up to now and apply it in any way in general science practices.
2. What are the concepts that are totally new to you? Do you think those concepts are
worth learning? Please explain.
Honestly, I am already with the whole concept. On the other hand, the purpose of
discussion section is different from what I have learned in high school. We write the
suggestions and recommendations that will benefit the future experimenter in the
recommendation section after the conclusion part. Even so, I will adapt on the changes in
the concept and definitely put it in my mind as a new learning.
3. How do you think the content of the material will be useful in doing laboratory activities?
Explain.
The content of the material will definitely become helpful in laboratory activities. In
terms of writing laboratory reports, it is similar to writing a scientific report. There should
be proper format on writing it listed as abstract, aims, introduction, methods, results,
analysis, discussion, and conclusion. This way, the laboratory report is generalized,
organized, and formal.