Conclusion and Evaluation

This final section of the report is where you answer the research question, based on the scientific evidence of your results.  Because nothing is ever completely certain in science, you must then discuss the limitations of your conclusions.  You must also discuss how reliable your conclusions are (how much the reader can trust them) by evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the investigation.  And finally, to help the advance of scientific knowledge, you should offer suggestions for improving or continuing the investigations for any scientists who wishes to continue your work.

Concluding                                       

• State and explain a conclusion, including uncertainties, that is supported by your data.  Your conclusion should directly answer your research question.  Do not use the word “prove”, use "show" or "support" instead.  Nothing is ever proven in science.  Your results only support your conclusions.
• If possible, include an equation, with uncertainties, showing the relationship between the research question variables.
• Compare the results with literature values, including percent error, if appropriate.
• Discuss any other findings of importance (beyond the research question).
• State and explain the limits of applicability of your conclusions.  What situations can your conclusion be legitimately applied to?
• Justify any data that was dropped during the analysis.

Evaluating procedures

You should discuss 3-4 of the major weaknesses and limitations of your investigation.  Two “weaknesses” to avoid including are “Not enough time”  (If you needed more time, you should have continued outside of class.) and “Human error” (Science is always done by humans, so “human error” is meaningless.  Be specific; explain what exact “error” the humans committed.)

Here are some ideas of what to think about when identifying the major weaknesses. 

• Check each step of the procedure to determine if it was imprecise, and HOW the data could have been affected.
• Discuss any weakness in the control of important variables.
• Discuss any weakness in the range, timing, or frequency of measurement.
• Comment on the precision and accuracy of measurements.
• State how any of the following might have affected the data/results:
• initial conditions of the specimens or materials
• human handling of the specimens or materials (including how the process of measuring might have influenced the investigation)
• time for stabilizing system or between when measurements were taken

Improving the investigation

For each weakness mentioned above, you should suggest a realistic modification to the experimental technique to improve the reliability of the results.

Finally, you should include suggestions for an investigation that would continue from and build on this investigation.

 

Here is an example of a well-written Conclusion and Evaluation section.

 

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