How to Write a Conclusion for a Science Lab

Taking and recording measurements and observations is important.

Conducting experiments in a science lab is common practice throughout middle school and high school. The process used when conducing experiments is called the scientific method. This method is a standard set of steps that scientists and science students follow when testing a hypothesis and evaluating an experiment. Following these steps in order and taking good notes are the keys to being able to effectively write a conclusion.

Instructions

1. Organize and rewrite notes. If you took thorough notes throughout your lab experiment, you might need to edit or condense them into a format that is easier to read. Highlight key observations and important data. It might be easier to read and evaluate them if they are documented in a graph or chart.

2. Reread your original hypothesis and compare it to the data and observations in your newly organized notes. Your data will either support or contradict your original hypothesis, and this will determine how to write your conclusion.

3. Write your conclusion. Your conclusion should include the following: a summary or generalized statement describing the experiment, a statement indicating whether your results supported or contradicted your original hypothesis, the relationship between dependent and independent variables, comments evaluating your procedure, including its successes and flaws, and any suggested changes or modifications for further study.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember, a conclusion indicating a contradiction between the original hypothesis and the results is not a failure. It is an indication that further study might be warranted or a modification might be in order.

References

• Scientific Method.com
• Science Buddies.org: Overview of the Scientific Method