AP BIOLOGY LAB REPORT FORMAT

1. AP BIOLOGY LABREPORT FORMAT

2. Why Do We LAB? • Be sure to know the purpose of the lab… • The lab procedures to follow • Accurately report in detail on each aspect of the lab experience • Your laboratory report should reflect your understanding of the lab experience as you design, perform, and analyze the experiment.

3. PRE-LAB Preparation • Title Page • Problem Statement/Purpose • Hypothesis • Experimental Design • Each major section (Problem, Hypothesis, Experimental Design, Data Collection/Analysis, Conclusion) should be FRAMED IN A BOX

4. TITLE PAGE • Experiment Title: (must reflect the nature/topic of the lab) • Date of the Experiment: (MM/DD/YY format) • Student Name: (First Last Name) • Class Period: (Hour #) • Lab Partners: (Last names only, including yours, inside parentheses)

5. PROBLEM STATEMENT / PURPOSE • State what phenomena (event or happening) you are trying to answer or what topic is being explored • This must be put in the form of a QUESTION, and must include BOTH the independent and dependent variable. • Problem Statement: (What, When, Why, How… ?) • How does a variance in the … ? • What effect does the … ? • Where does the subcutaneous layer… ?

6. HYPOTHESIS • A hypothesis is a prediction about the outcome of an experiment based on background information • The hypothesis is stated in the following form: [LEFT align, then underline/highlight the if/then/because words] • IF (summary paragraph of the procedures that will be done), • THEN (statement of prediction or anticipated outcomes based on procedures), • BECAUSE(reasons WHY the result is predicted or what research supports the prediction

7. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN • The design will include a list of materials, general description of the setup for the experiment, and procedures (steps) to be followed • Drawings and/or diagrams may be added to aid your description of the experimental design • Indicate which variables make up both the independent and dependent variables • How the experiment is to be controlled or will make use of a control • Include any safety cautions you need to consider.

8. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN • ALL materials used must be listed along with the quantity of materials used and concentrations of solutions. • Include a step-by-step description of how the experiment is to be set-up and conducted – BE SPECIFIC. Enough detail must be given so that the reader could duplicate your experiment. • Be sure to identify the treatment of both the dependent and independent variables and note controls in the experiment. • A description of the design of the experiment should include: • What data will be collected? • How many trials will be completed? • What factors must remain constant? • How will the data be interpreted? To this point, the PRE-LAB should be complete…

9. DATA COLLECTION / ANALYSIS • Include the recorded lab data which should be inclusive of labeled tables, graphs and analysis of graphs, and/or the resultant calculations of the experimental lab data • Be sure to include your observations of the interaction of the variables and any unexpected results.

10. DATA COLLECTION / ANALYSIS • Sometimes you will be taking measurements (quantitative data) and sometimes you will have to make objective observations (qualitative data). • Whenever possible, data should be presented in a chart or table format and analysis may include graphs/figures of the data collected.

11. DATA COLLECTION / ANALYSIS • Tables should contain the following: • A table number for each table indicated (Ex. Table 1, Table 2, …) • A title above the table that completely describes its contents • Rows and columns that are clearly labeled

12. DATA COLLECTION / ANALYSIS • Graphs/Figures should contain the following features: • A graph/figure number for each graph or figure determined for the experiment’s analysis (Ex. Figure 1, Graph 2.1, …) • A caption underneath the figure that completely describes its contents • Axes on graphs that are properly labeled, and include units of measure • Graphs may be done by hand or on the computer. Graphs drawn by hand must be done neatly on graph paper.

13. DATA COLLECTION / ANALYSIS Use complete sentences in your interpretation of the data. • Discuss and describe any patterns shown in the data • State what you understand the information to mean • Refer to the table or figure number when discussing data • Answer any analysis questions included in the lab handout

14. CONCLUSION / SUMMARY • First, begin your conclusion with the statement “I ACCEPT/REJECT my hypothesis because…” Give reasons from laboratory results that show just cause for either your acceptance or rejection of your hypothesis • Be sure to indicate any relationships, patterns or trends that resulted from your investigation. This statement may also include a summary of the analysis of the data.

15. CONCLUSION / SUMMARY • Discuss whether the data supports or does not support the hypothesis. • You must cite specific data and observations that support your conclusions. • Try to explain unpredicted results and develop new hypotheses.

16. CONCLUSION / SUMMARY • Discuss any experimental errors that may have occurred due to weaknesses in your procedure or problems with the execution of your experiment. Do not create a list of things that could have gone wrong – such a list would be endless. Identify particular things that you observed or documented while conducting your study that could have influenced the results. • Discuss how you might extend or improve your experiment. • Be clear and concise. Proofread and correct errors.

17. CONCLUSION / SUMMARY • Further, explain whether repetition of this experiment would yield or yielded the same results. • What sources of experimental error were detected? What modifications would be corrected if the lab were repeated? • Also, indicate whether your experiment included a control.

18. CONCLUSION / SUMMARY • Finally, based on your results, determine if your original hypothesis can now answer the original Problem Statement. • Be sure to state the rule or mechanisms operating in this experiment. • Comment on the knowledge gained and how it can be made valuable and applied to other biological instances or within our biosphere (biological signifance)

19. Presentation/Safety • Writing/Spelling - Read and re-read your entire report. Cross through and/or omit any meaningless statements and make any needed corrections. Be sure that your answer is stated clearly! • Tables/Graphs/Charts (correctness counts) • Safety/Lab Cleanup

20. The End Any Questions??