Investigative Science Report Outline (Include a relative title to your

Experiment – the reader should know what your report holds just by reading your title.)

 Introduction
Here you will summarise the basic info on your experiment and “introduce” your
report. Include:
- Research question
What are you trying to answer or prove? In this specific report you are
answering:
“How does the slope of an incline affect the speed of an object moving
freely down it?”
- Aim
What is your goal for this experiment? What are you wanting to discover?

For an experiment testing the boiling points of liquids it could read;

(Example text) “To discover the boiling points of liquids in a laboratory
environment.”
- Research and background information
Input core ideas and scientific theories that could assist you in this
experiment. Do solid research from reputable sources. Avoid online forums
and blogs for input. Instead, search for scientific resources from the
library, or websites that are long-standing and offer solid ideas. For
example, National Geographic / BBC will be far more reputable than “Uncle
Keith’s Ideas on Science”.

 Hypothesis
- This is a statement that is, in essence, an educated guess on the end-result
of your experiment.
- Your hypothesis should be clearly and simply written, telling your teacher
exactly what you thought was going to happen in your experiment.
- Ensure your hypothesis can be tested. To prove or disprove your hypothesis,
you will need to do an experiment, analyse your findings / data and draw a
conclusion.
- Research your experiment. From previously completed similar experiments,
you will be able to draw a relating conclusion on what your results could show.
- Make sure your hypothesis is relevant to a single experiment – the one you
are presently working on .
- Example: “When there is less oxygen in the water, rainbow trout suffer more lice.”
 Equipment
- This is a straight-forward section, listing the equipment used within your
experiment.
- Use specific descriptions of your equipment. Example: “a block” versus “a
10cm wooden cube”
- List these in point form.

 Methodology
- This is a step-for-step recount of your experiment.
- Remember to use past tense when writing your report, as you have
already completed the experiment .

 Present your data

- Present your data – consider using tables and graphs to strategically
display the data you obtained through your experiment.

 Discussion and interpretation of Data

- This is probably the most challenging part of your report. You need
to combine your results obtained by your experiment; relate them to
your findings and back with scientific research.

 Conclusion
- The validity and accuracy of your results should be discussed here.
- Discussion should focus on implications and criticisms.
- Definitive conclusions should be backed by your research.