Important Terminology for Lab Reports
Affect vs. Effect: affect is a verb; to produce a change in or impact results. Effect is a noun; describes the observed change or impact on test groups or results.
Analysis: study and examination of results and what they mean
Calculations: processing of raw data to show patterns or summary statistics
Control: test group that is not treated with any variable
Consistent: describes data or results that show little variation or align with an explanation
Correlates: describes a relationship between variables that change or occur together
Data: (plural) information, qualitative or quantitative, gathered for experiment; process of gathering discussed in methods section
Experimental Error: addressed in discussion section; possible explanations for unexpected results; areas where inaccurate measurements or observations may have been made
Factors: often used in discussion to describe things that might affect some result or observation
Observations: notes or record of events that may have occurred during experimental process
Procedure: series of steps or methods used throughout experiment to collect and process data or observations
Purpose: what did you hope to achieve from this experiment? more general than hypothesis
Significant: description of results that are relevant to hypothesis; can either support or refute. Statistically, significant values have a p-value less than 0.05.
Support/Refute: terms used to state whether or not results would be expected if the hypothesis were true; CANNOT prove or disprove hypothesis (never 100% sure)
Trial(s): number of times the experimental procedure was repeated to produce more results
Variables: experimental elements that are being observed; often expected to see some difference between control and variable groups