Scientific Method &
Writing Experiments
IB Biology
Variables
● Independent Variable:
○ Part of the experiment that you purposely change
● Dependent Variable:
○ Part of the experiment that is not purposefully
changed
○ Part of the experiment that is measured
● Constants:
○ Portions and conditions of the experiments that are
purposefully kept the same
Writing Experiments: Hypothesis
Hypothesis Format:
● If change in Independent Variable (I.V.),
then predicted change in Dependent
Variable (D.V).
● If change in thing/factor of I.V., then
prediction of how D.V. (what you measure)
will change
● No Pronouns: I, You, We, He, She, It, Ya'll,
They
Writing Experiments: Hypothesis
Practice: Fix the
following hypothesis...
If we change the water
temperature, then the
Daphnia will change.
Writing Experiments: Hypothesis
Practice: Fix the following hypothesis...
If we change the water temperature, then the
Daphnia will change.
If we the water temperature is increased
change the water temperature, then the
Daphnia's Heart Rate will change also
increase.
Writing Experiments: Hypothesis
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Writing Experiments: Hypothesis
An IB hypothesis....
If we the environmental conditions of
Daphnia are altered by increasing water
temperature from 21℃ to 23℃ by factors of
0.5℃, then Daphnia will show an increase
in heart rate proportional to the temperature
increase in which 23℃ temperature will
demonstrate a 25% heart rate increase in
comparison to 21℃.
Writing Experiments: Hypothesis
Practice:
Write a hypothesis for testing the effect of milk
consumption (different concentrations,
amounts, etc) on bone strength (measured by
density).
Writing Experiments: Background
● What is the topic being addressed?
● What information would be helpful to the
reader, i.e. what would be necessary to
understand the topic at hand.
● What do you already know about the topic
● What, in general, will be conducted in the
experiment
● Previously conducted studies or experiments
that are related to your lab
Procedure
● Numbered, step by step list of instructions
● Procedure must be repeatable by anyone
who reads the procedure
● Don't need to explain common steps such as
finding the temperature using a thermometer
● Established procedural methods can be
used, but must be cited
Data Tables
● Include data tables to present raw data
○ Raw data is the actual measurements
○ Should be placed in appendix of report
○ Include both qualitative & quantitative data
● Data tables must have units, be titled, and
organized so that information is easily read
● Data table that includes calculated or
manipulated data (mean, median, mode,
standard deviation, change, etc).
○ Should be placed in body of report
Data Table - Example
Data Table 1. Bird Mass (g) (+/-0.1g) per Beak Length (mm) (+/-0.1mm)
Processing Data
● Use raw data to present data by the use of
graphs or charts
● Both graphs and charts must be titled
correctly
○ Title should indicate what graph/chart is showing
○ Example: Effect of temperature on rate of diffusion
● Axes must be labeled and include units and
uncertainty, including what measurement is
being used for uncertainty
● Raw data tables should be in appendix,
summarized in body of report
Conclusion
● Restate experimental question hypothesis
● Provide answer to hypothesis
○ When answering the hypothesis, data must must
must be used to justify your answer
● Single experiment doesn’t prove or disprove, its
supports or denies a hypothesis
● Explain and clarify the reliability of the results using
statistical analysis
○ Describe why statistical tests were done and what
they indicate about your results (use these to help if
hypothesis is supported or not supported)
■ Types of Statistical Tests: Average, Standard
Deviation, SEM, 95% CI, Correlation Test, T-Test
Conclusion
● Indicate procedural errors occurred during experiment
and what effect they may have had on results
○ Examine the procedure to identify areas for
improvement
● Describe how procedural errors could be fixed to
improve precision
● Suggest how obtained information could be used further
in future experiments
● Appendix:
○ Works cited
○ Raw data
○ Sample Calculations
○ Images/diagram of experiment set-up
Practice
A group of scientists want to measure the effect of
adding different types of nutrients to the same plant
species. They plan to add 3 different nutrients to the
same species and measure the effect on the plant’s
growth.
1. What is the independent variable?
2. What is the dependent variable?
3. What would be an appropriate control?
4. What could be some of the experiment’s constants?
5. How would the graph (just title & labels, no actual data)
for this experiment look like?
Circle how you are feeling:
Additional Information & Explanation
IB Lab Standards Expla
ined
