Scientific Report

Sections of a Scientific Report

All scientific reports follow a basic structure: title, abstract, introduction, aim and hypotheses, method, results, discussion, references and appendices. This makes it easier to read, research and reference.

Title

The title of the article should succinctly summarise what the study is about.
The title should include the independent and dependent variable.
- For example: “An investigation into the effects of caffeine on short-term memory recall”.

Abstract

The abstract is a summary of the article.
The purpose of the abstract is for other scientists and readers to quickly identify what the study is about and if it is worthwhile for them to read.
The abstract should include the aim, hypotheses, and brief summaries of the method and results.

Introduction

Often students can confuse the abstract and the introduction - so be careful not to confuse the two.
While the abstract summarises the whole article, the introduction gives a description of the background of the study.
- For example, background information on what caffeine is, how it affects the body, what short-term memory is, how short-term memory recall is variable amongst people, etc.

Introduction cont.

The introduction provides the foundations of what previous research has been done and the framework for why the study is being done.
The introduction can include references to related studies, techniques and theories.
- For example, studies on the effects of caffeine on the body, short-term memory, the effects of other drugs on memory could all be referenced to.

Illustrative background for Aim ?? "content

Aim

This section is the start of the ‘new’ study or rather, the study that is being published.
The aim is stated here, in other words, why is the study being done?
- An example of an aim would be: “The investigation will examine the effects of caffeine on short-term memory recall.”

Hypotheses

A hypothesis, while similar to the aim, is stated slightly differently.
The hypothesis should include the independent and dependent variables.
A hypothesis should be able to be tested.
- An example: “Higher doses of caffeine will increase short-term memory recall”.

Method of a Scientific Report

The method should include the design of the investigation, the procedure, how the participants were used and any resources that were used.

Method

The method lays out how the study was completed and the techniques used.
The method needs to be detailed enough for other scientists to be able to replicate the study.
Repeat studies are crucial because they help to validate the results of the initial study.

Design 1

The design of the investigation includes several key points:
- 1. Research method: a laboratory experiment, a natural experiment, questionnaires or observations.
- 1. Materials used: what sets of questions were provided, what sort of technology was used (fMRI, EEG).

Design 2

1. Research design: whether it was independent groups design, matched pairs design or repeated measures design and why.
2. This part should also detail the issues of using these and how they were overcome.
1. How the extraneous variables were controlled. This is important to limit their impact on the results.

Design 3

1. Ethical issues: an important part of any research is how these are overcome.
2. The principles of informed consent, deception, protection from harm, debriefing and confidentiality are all important to make sure that research is done in an ethical manner.

Procedure

The procedure is a step-by-step outline of how the study happened. It should include the following:
- The procedure should start off by addressing the ethical issues.
- How were the participants introduced to the study and how informed consent.

Procedure cont.

The standardised procedure is important to limit extraneous variables.
- A set-list of instructions should be given to participants in the same manner.
- The details of the participants’ debrief should also be outlined.
- Finally, how the data was recorded should be detailed.

Method of a Scientific Report (Cont.)

The method should include the design of the investigation, the procedure, how the participants were used and any resources that were used.

Participants

A description of the use of participants should include:
- How many participants were used.
- The demographics of the participants.
  - Demographics like gender, age, socioeconomic status, race could potentially all be described, depending on the nature of the study.

Participants - sampling

There are various types of sampling methods.
- E.g. random, opportunity, volunteer, systematic, and stratified.
The type selected and the reason why should be described.
- For example, volunteer sampling was chosen as the researcher wanted to select participants according to age and gender.

Conditions

Finally, an account of how the participants were assigned to the conditions of the study should be provided.
- For example, were the participants divided by gender or age or a combination of both?

Resources

Lastly, in the method, an outline of the resources used is given.
If the study involved an interview, the list of questions used is written.
The details of any equipment used should be described. It can be beneficial to include pictures of such equipment.

1Principles of Science I

1.1Structure & Bonding

1.1.1Atomic Model

1.1.2Electron Shells, Sub-Shells & Orbitals

1.1.3Ionic Bonding

1.1.4Representing Ionic Bonds

1.1.5Covalent Bonding

1.1.6Representing Covalent Bonds

1.1.7Metallic Bonding

1.1.8Intermolecular Forces

1.1.9Intermolecular Forces 2

1.1.10End of Topic Test - Bonding

1.1.11Relative Masses

1.1.12The Mole

1.1.13Molar Calculations

1.1.14Molar Calculations 2

1.1.15Empirical & Molecular Formulae

1.1.16Balanced Equations

1.1.17Percentage Yield

1.1.18End of Topic Test - Amount of Substance

1.2Properties of Substances

1.2.1The Periodic Table

1.2.2Ionisation Energy

1.2.3Factors Affecting Ionisation Energies

1.2.4Trends of Ionisation

1.2.5Trends in the Periodic Table

1.2.6Polarity

1.2.7Metals & Non-Metals

1.2.8Alkali Metals

1.2.9Alkaline Earth Metals

1.2.10Reactivity of Alkaline Earth Metals

1.2.11Redox

1.2.12Transition Metals

1.2.13Redox Reactions of Transition Metals

1.3Cell Structure & Function

1.3.1Introduction to Cells

1.3.2Prokaryotes

1.3.3Organelles of Eukaryotic Cells

1.3.4Organelles of Eukaryotic Cells 2

1.3.5Organelles in Plant Cells

1.3.6Microscopy

1.3.7End of Topic Test - Cell Structure

1.4Cell Specialisation

1.4.1Cell Specialisation

1.4.2Blood Cells

1.4.3Plant Cells

1.4.4Gametes

1.5Tissue Structure & Function

1.5.1Human Gas Exchange

1.5.2Blood Vessels

1.5.3Atherosclerosis

1.5.4Skeletal Muscle

1.5.5Slow & Fast Twitch Fibres

1.5.6Neurones

1.5.7Speed of Transmission

1.5.8Action Potentials

1.5.9End of Topic Test - Neurones & Action Potentials

1.5.10Synapses

1.5.11Types of Synapse

1.5.12Medical Application

1.5.13End of Topic Test - Synapses

1.5.14Chemical Brain Imbalances

1.5.15Effect of Drugs on the Brain

1.6Working with Waves

1.6.1Progressive Waves

1.6.2Wave Speed & Phase Difference

1.6.3Longitudinal & Transverse Waves

1.6.4Stationary Waves

1.6.5Stationary Waves 2

1.6.6Applications of Stationary Waves

1.6.7Interference

1.6.8Diffraction

1.6.9Diffraction Gratings

1.6.10Application of Diffraction Gratings

1.7Waves in Communication

1.7.1Refraction at a Plane Surface

1.7.2Internal Reflection & Fibre Optics

1.7.3Applications of Total Internal Reflection

1.7.4Properties

1.7.5Gamma, X-Ray & UV Light

1.7.6Visible Light

1.7.7Infrared, Microwave & Radio Waves

1.7.8Intensity

1.7.9Digital & Analogue Signals

1.7.10Communication Channels

2Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques

2.1Titration

2.1.1pH Curves & Titrations

2.1.2pH Curves & Titrations 2

2.1.3Buffer Solutions

2.2Colorimetry

2.2.1Measuring Rates

2.2.2Beer-Lambert Law

2.3Chromatography

2.3.1Overview of Chromatography

2.3.2Thin-Layer Chromatography

2.3.3Column Chromatography

2.3.4Gas Chromatography

3Science Investigation Skills

3.1Scientific Processes

3.1.1Aims, Hypotheses & Sampling

3.1.2Pilot Studies & Design

3.1.3Ethics

3.1.4Variables & Control

3.1.5Demand Characteristics & Investigator Effects

3.1.6Features of Science

3.1.7Scientific Report

3.1.8Scientific Report 2

3.2Data Handling & Analysis

3.2.1Types of Data

3.2.2Descriptive Statistics

3.2.3Presentation & Display of Data

3.3Enzymes in Action

3.3.1Overview of Protein Structure

3.3.2Enzymes

3.3.3Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity

3.3.4Enzyme-Controlled Reactions

3.4Diffusion

3.4.1Diffusion

3.5Plants & Their Environment

3.5.1Factors Affecting Plant Growth

3.5.2Measuring Number & Distribution of Species

3.6Energy Content in Fuels

3.6.1Fractions

3.6.2Burning Hydrocarbons

3.6.3Combustion

3.6.4Energy

3.6.5Energy at Home

3.6.6Calorimetry

3.7Electrical Circuits

3.7.1Circuit Diagrams & Components

3.7.2Diodes, LDRs & Thermistors

3.7.3Resistance

3.7.4Electrical Work

3.7.5Ohm's Law

3.7.6Domestic Uses of Electricity

3.7.7Fuses

4Principles of Science II

4.1Extracting Elements

4.1.1Atom Economy

4.2Relating Properties to use of Substances

4.2.1Group 2 Chemistry

4.2.2End of Topic Test - Group 2

4.2.3Electrolysis

4.2.4Electrolysis Examples

4.2.5Extracting Metals

4.2.6Transition Metals

4.2.7Variable Oxidation States

4.2.8Heterogeneous Catalysts

4.2.9Homogeneous Catalysts

4.3Organic Chemistry

4.3.1Naming Compounds

4.3.2Functional Groups

4.3.3Isomerism

4.3.4Hydrocarbons

4.3.5Structure of Alkanes

4.3.6Boiling Points of Alkanes

4.3.7Alkenes

4.3.8Curly Arrows & Mechanisms

4.3.9Cracking

4.3.10Combustion

4.3.11Free Radical Substitution of Alkanes

4.3.12Electrophilic Addition of Alkenes

4.4Energy Changes in Industry

4.4.1The Kelvin Scale

4.4.2Enthalpy Changes

4.4.3Calorimetry

4.4.4Bond Enthalpies

4.4.5Hess' Law

4.5The Circulatory System

4.5.1The Circulatory System

4.5.2Blood Vessels

4.5.3Blood Transfusion & the ABO Rhesus System

4.5.4The Heart

4.5.5The Cardiac Cycle

4.5.6Cardiac Output

4.5.7Coordination of Heart Action

4.5.8Heart Dissection

4.5.9Controlling Heart Rate

4.5.10Electrocardiograms

4.5.11Cardiovascular Disease

4.5.12Investigating Heart Rates

4.6Ventilation & Gas Exchange

4.6.1Human Gas Exchange

4.6.2Ventilation

4.6.3Measuring Gas Exchange

4.6.4Controlling Ventilation Rate

4.6.5Lung Disease

4.6.6Lung Disease Data

4.7Urinary System

4.7.1Kidneys & Control of Water Balance

4.7.2Kidneys & Osmoregulation

4.7.3Kidneys & Blood Pressure

4.7.4Urine

4.7.5Kidney Failure & Urinalysis

4.7.6Dialysis

4.7.7Transplants

4.8Cell Transport

4.8.1Cell Membrane Structure

4.8.2Diffusion

4.8.3Osmosis

4.8.4Active Transport

4.9Thermal Physics

4.9.1Power & Efficiency

4.9.2Work & Energy

4.9.3Conservation of Energy

4.9.4Pressure

4.9.5First Law of Thermodynamics

4.9.6Second Law of Thermodynamics

4.9.7Heat Engines, Heat Pumps & Refrigerators

4.9.8Non-Flow Processes

4.9.9p-V Diagrams

4.9.10Ideal Gases

4.9.11Ideal Gases 2

4.9.12Thermal Energy Transfer

4.9.13Thermal Energy Transfer Experiments

4.10Materials

4.10.1Density

4.10.2Stress & Strain

4.10.3Properties of Materials

4.10.4Elasticity

4.10.5Plasticity

4.10.6Energy in Materials

4.10.7Young Modulus

4.11Fluids

4.11.1Fluid Flow

4.11.2Viscosity

4.11.3Density

4.11.4Continuity Equation

4.11.5Bernoulli's Equation

4.11.6Non-Newtonian Fluids

5Contemporary Issues in Science

5.1Contemporary Issues in Science

5.1.1Sustainability

5.1.2Genetic Engineering

5.1.3Uses of Genetic Modification

5.1.4Stem Cell Therapy

5.1.5Cloning

5.1.6Cloning 2

5.1.7Nanotechnology

5.1.8Ecosystems

5.2Analysing Scientific Information

5.2.1Validity

5.2.2Peer Review

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