Formal Lab Report Outline For Systems Design Lab
In groups, you and your partners will be designing your own experiment dealing with factors affecting
heart rate; blood pressure or respiration. For example: “The effect of Exercise on Heart Rate”.
You will be given access to sphygmomanometer, stethoscopes, spirometers etc. You can bring in your own
devices. You will be given one in class day to write up your procedure and discuss your topics, and 1 day to
run your trials.
Your lab must satisfy a 5 X 5 model. You will have 5 changes to your independent variable e.g. 5 different
amounts of caffeine and each trial must be repeated 5 times. You and your group will be your own test
subjects.
Prior to the execution of the lab, you will need to have a proposal approved, that includes your question,
hypothesis, independent and dependent variables, etc. (Please see attached proposal form)
Each person will be writing their own report. Any lab report should include the following sections:
TITLE PAGE
A blank sheet of paper with the title of the lab, student’s name, lab partners’ names, teacher’s
name and date.
PURPOSE
What are you trying to find out by doing your experiment? It is usually written in the form of a
statement expressing your intentions OR in the form of a question.
i.e.
To study how nitrogen concentration (independent) affects plant growth
(dependent).
What is the effect of different nitrogen concentrations (independent) on plant
growth (dependent)?
HYPOTHESIS
This is a statement of what you think the result of your experiment will be based on the
background research you have conducted. A proper hypothesis always contains an “if …
then…because” statement. The independent variable is the “if” part, the dependent variable is the
“then” part, and the reasoning is the “because” part.
i.e.
IF the amount of light to which a plant is exposed (independent = mass) is increased,
THEN the plant will experience more growth (dependent = time) BECAUSE the rate of
photosynthesis will increase, thus producing more sugars for the plant’s metabolism.
VARIABLES
This is a table where you clearly identify the relevant variables. Identify your independent and
dependent variable and how they are measured (including units). Identify all your controlled
variables and explain how they were controlled.
APPARATUS
This is a list of ALL the EQUIPMENT you will need to carry out your experiment. Be specific.
MATERIALS
This is a list of ALL the CHEMICALS you will need to carry out your experiment. Be
specific.
PROCEDURE
This is a DETAILED, STEP BY STEP record of the things you did during the experiment. It
must be in the PAST, IMPERSONAL TENSE and in COMPLETE SENTENCES
i.e. INCORRECT  “We mixed the chemicals” (incorrect because not impersonal)
INCORRECT  “Mix the chemicals” (incorrect because not past tense)
INCORRECT  “Mixed chemicals” (incorrect because not a complete sentence
CORRECT  “The chemicals were mixed.” (past tense, impersonal and a complete sentence)
Only steps relevant to the experiment are required in the procedure.
i.e. Goggles were obtained. Lab station was cleaned. These are unnecessary steps.
OBSERVATIONS
This section includes a record of all qualitative and quantitative data obtained during the
experiment, usually in the form of a table. There should be nothing in the observations that you
could not sense, measure or read directly from the apparatus (NO INFERENCES OR
CONCLUSIONS).
All your raw data should be included in this section
PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS
This section includes:
 a table of your PROCESSED data (ex. calculated averages)
 a sample calculation for each different type of calculation you perform (ex.
change in breathing rate, average change in breathing rate)
 graph plotting your average values (include a line of best fit)
Please ensure that your graphs follow proper format for graphing (ex. title, axes labelled,
units included on axes, correct scale, line of best fit, drawn in pencil and on graph paper)
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
This section includes a discussion of the data obtained during the lab. You need to
summarize the data you collected (i.e. what are the numbers?). You should also explain
what happened in general as you changed your independent variable (what trends/patterns
did you observe). (Ex. It was noted that as the temperature began to increase, the number
of ice creams sold also began to increase.)
CONCLUSION
In this section:




state the relationship between the two variables that you are investigating (ex. as
temperature increases the number of ice creams sold also increases). What
relationship does your data show? Explain why!!!! What does scientific
research say about this relationship?
If the data did not show what was expected, then explain what you should have
seen and why this is the expected relationship.
Evaluate your procedure and describe at least 3 sources of experimental error
(i.e.what could have affected your results)
For each potential source of error, suggest a way the procedure could be
improved to reduce/eliminate this error
APPENDICES
This section typically includes such elements as raw data, all calculations, prelab questions,
references, graphs or pictures that have not been included in the report itself. Each type of item
should be contained in a separate appendix and should have a title (i.e Appendix A: Prelab
Questions, Appendix B: Calculations, etc Appendix C: Raw Data). Make sure you refer to each
appendix at least once in your report.
Formal Lab Report Evaluation
Section
Title Page
Purpose
Hypothesis
Variables
Apparatus
Materials
Procedure
Observations
Processing and Analysis
Discussion
Conclusion
Appendices
Spelling and Grammar
Bibliography
Criteria
-includes all necessary information
-correct format
-clearly stated purpose
-clearly stated hypothesis in the form of an
“if… then…because” statement
- clearly identifies the appropriate
variables and the explains how they are
controlled
-complete, detailed list of apparatus used
-complete, detailed list of materials used
-detailed, step by step outline of procedure
-well thought out experimental design
-controlled all other variables
-complete list of observations/raw data
included
-table is clear and easy to read
-headings and units included
-table with processed data is complete,
clear, easy to read
Mark
0
1
0
0
1
1
2
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1
2
0
0
0
0.5
0.5
1 2
0
1
2
0
1
2
-sample calculations are included
-calculations are correct, easy to follow
and include units throughout
-graph includes title, labelled axes with
units, proper scale, proper plotting of
points, line of best fit
-graph is hand drawn, in pencil, on graph
paper
-discusses data obtained
-identifies patterns/trends in data
-clearly stated relationship between
independent and dependent variables
-expected relationship between variables is
well explained and based on scientific
research
-identifies and explains 3 sources of error
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1
2
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1
2
3
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1
2
3
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1
0
1
2
3
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1
2
3
-identifies and explains 3 improvements
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1
2
3
-includes any necessary appendices
-uses correct format
0 errors =3
1-3 errors =2
4-6 errors = 1
>6 errors = 0
-includes bibliography using proper format
-follows proper format for referencing
0
1
2
0
1
2
0
1
2
3
4
5
3
TOTAL
Labs may not be accepted if the following criteria are not met. You may be asked to make the
necessary corrections and resubmit the lab with a late penalty.
 the report should be typed
 the report needs to be stapled prior to coming to class
 graphs need to be done on graph paper and in pencil and HAND DRAWN (not computer
generated)
 grammar and spelling should be checked (NOTE: labs should always be written in the
impersonal, past tense (no “I”, “me”, “we” anywhere in the report!)