Guide to Writing Lab Reports

Guide to Writing Lab Reports Aspect 1: Defining the Problem and Selecting Variables: Research Question (RQ) The first part of planning an experiment is writing a good research question that you will investigate. A Good RQ will: Include both dependent and independent variables Be Quantitative if appropriate Include the organism or tissue investigated Hypothesis A hypothesis is a statement that addresses the RQ and makes a prediction about what will happen. A Good Hypothesis will: Be written in an If. . ., then. . ., because. . . format. (If the [independent variable] [does something], then the [dependent variable] will [do something as a result], because [explanation].) Include both dependent and independent variables Be Quantitative if appropriate Be Testable (Falsifiable) Relate to the RQ Be explained Variables Variables are the different parts of your experiment that are able to change from one experiment to another. In order to perform a fair test it is important to make sure that we control as many variables as possible in order to gain accurate data. A Good Variables list will: Include the Independent variable the variable you change Include the Dependent variable the variable that changes as a result of the independent variable Include other Controlled variables (constants?) and why we need to Identify the control (controlled variables are things we need to keep constant in each experiment) Groups: These groups should be very clearly identified so that you may refer back to them throughout your lab report as you do data processing, data presentation, and your conclusion/ evaluation. Control group: This is the baseline group that you will be comparing the how the independent variable affects the dependent variable. This is NOT the same thing as controlled variables. Experimental group(s): This (These) is (are) the what is affected by the independent variable and is what you are measuring. Aspect 2: Controlling Variables: Control of Variables Part of methods section of a lab is to include how you will control the variables, not simple what the variables are as listed above. It is possible to list the variables in the method section or to list them in their own section before materials and methods. If this is the case you will still need to discuss HOW you will control them in the methods section. A Good Control of Variables section will: Specify how the measurements will be collected. Specify how the other variables will be controlled. Make sure that each variable in the list is mention Aspect 3: Developing a Method for Collecting Data: Apparatus and Materials Includes the necessary equipment and materials to control and measure the variables listed in Aspect 1. Should be in its own section separate from Method. A Good Apparatus and Materials List will: Indicate the correct materials for each variable Indicate the precision of measurements: 500 ml beaker, instead of just beaker Thermometer (0-100 °) instead of just Thermometer 1 meter stick or 100 cm ruler not just ruler Can include an annotated diagram, but not necessary Methods to Collect Sufficient and Relevant data Includes a numbered series of steps to control all variables and collect sufficient and relevant data. It is important when planning an experiment to think about the RANGE and SIZE of measurements as well as how many REPLICATES of the experiment you will do. This is part of the methods section. Should be in its own section separate from Apparatus and Materials A Good Methods section will: Include all steps necessary to complete the experiment (even the obvious ones- think about your grandma) Include how and when to take measurements or record observations Address an appropriate RANGE of intervals or measurements. i.e. temperature from 0-10 or 0-100 or 50-100, etc IB requires that you have a minimum of 5 increments (or trials) with a minimum of 5 repeats at each trial. Address the SIZE of intervals or measurements i.e. what units of time will be used, or how long will the experiment run, etc Indicates how many times the experiment will be REPLICATED i.e. how many times should you do the experiment? Makes sure that relevant data is able to be collected Data Collection and Processing Aspect 1: Recording Raw Data: Collecting and recording raw data Data collection skills are important in accurately recording observed events and are critical to scientific investigation. Data collection involves all quantitative or qualitative raw data. Qualitative data is defined as things being observed with more or less unaided senses (color, change of state, etc.) or rather crude estimates (hotter, colder, brighter, etc). Quantitative data involves some measurement. A Good Data Collector will: Record all appropriate data Pay attention to detail Include units for all measurements Include uncertainties of the instruments used Rules for data table construction It is important when presenting data that is done in an effective and easy to read format. There are more than one ways to make a table, but you should always follow convention when making your tables. A Good Data Table will have: A descriptive title Headings with units, no units in body of table Independent variable in the left hand column Dependent variable across the top Uncertainties in all measurements Whenever we make a measurement we do so with some error or uncertainty. We cannot make exact measurements, therefore it is important to indicate what level of uncertainty there may be. This should be done in the headings after the units are given. Uncertainties are calculated as:  ±  ½ of the smallest unit measurable by the instrument. For example, a thermometer that is graded to 1 °C has an uncertainty of  ± 0.5 °C  ± 1 unit of length ( ½ x 2 measurements) Aspect 2: Processing Raw Data: Data Processing Data processing means that you are actually converting the data into another form. Putting numbers into a table is not data processing! A Good Data Processing section will: Show the formula you used, even if it seems simple Include processes such as: means standard deviations % differences Statistical tests t-test   X2 (Chi-squared) test Aspect 3: Presenting Processed Data: Data Presentation Data presentation is not always necessary to every lab. You must evaluate if the data you collected is able to be graphed. [Hint: basically all quantitative data can be collected] A Good Data Presentation section will: Use the appropriate graph type: continuous variable best line or scatter graphs discontinuous variable bar graphs parts of a whole pie charts Have a descriptive title Have appropriate headings with units on both axis Be drawn neatly with axis being drawn in pencil Have clear labels or a key if more than one data set is present on one set of axis Have clearly marked and appropriate units Have points clearly located and marked NEVER connect the dots!!! Aspect 1: Concluding: Conclusion: A conclusion is not simply a restatement of the problem. It requires thought and analysis of the relevant data collected and presented. A Good Conclusion will: Refer back to the RQ and hypothesis. Remember, you CAN NOT prove your hypothesis right. You can support it, or disprove it, but you cannot prove anything! Be explained with reference to data analysis and literature values [translation: dont say something that is not in your data!] Give the quantitative relationship between variables where appropriate linear, exponential, inverse, positive, negative, not it changed, we can see that! Say how it changed! Compare results with text book or other literature values Aspect 2: Evaluating the Procedure: Evaluation: Most difficult part! You are not being judged as person, so dont take the defensive and try and justify your mistakes! Be honest, and think hard about what you could have done better. A Good Evaluation will: Identify sources of error in method and measurement Identify limitations in method [whether or not you chose it or not] and data collection Aspect 3: Improving the Investigation: Improvements: After you identify possible sources of error in your experiment it is necessary to provide realistic methods to improve on your experiment. A Good Improvements section will: Address each of the possible sources of error in the investigation and cite methods that could be used to fix them Change dont say the temperature changed, or the graph changed. Use increase or decrease, or another qualitative statement. It, They, Them use nouns. It doesnt matter if you say the same thing 100 times! This is not English class. Prove You cant prove anything. You can only support your hypothesis. SO. . . The temperature changed, therefore it changed too, which proves my hypothesis to be correct. Is a horrible sentence!   

Wrongful Conception

The traditional way of doing things in America goes as follows; you meet Mr. or Mrs. Right, you get married, buy a house and have a family. After having all the children that one family wants someone in the relationship makes the responsible decision to be permanently sterilized or continue using birth control until menopause. Being permanently sterilized means, having the woman’s fallopian tubes either clamped or cut so as no more eggs are release into the uterus or having a man’s seminal vesicles cut so that no sperm is ejaculated. When a pregnancy occurs after one of these measures has been taken, it is looked into as wrongful conception or wrongful pregnancy. Women can become pregnant when their fallopian tubes were not completely cut, a man’s seminal vesicles are not severed all the way or something is wrong with the birth control in which she is taking. Wrongful conception, also known as wrongful pregnancy, is a case of action based on negligence in the provision of birth control or performance of sterilization procedures that result in an unwanted pregnancy. Sullivan, 2000) Physicians and pharmacists have come under legal trouble when a patient becomes pregnant and it is unwanted. Women have many reasons for no longer wanting any more children. It could be due to the age of the women and she is at a higher risk for the child to be mentally handicapped. The couple could merely be done having children because they have the desired amount that they could afford and wanted. The woman could have had a ve ry difficult pregnancy in the past and therefore not want to put her at risk any further. All of these are legitimate reasons to have a surgical intervention to no longer have children or to prevent having children with birth control. Many of those parents who end up taking legal action against a physician are those who have genetic disorders that they do not wish to pass on to their unborn children. Parents who have genetic testing done and find out that the likelihood of their children developing sickle cell anemia, downs syndrome or any other genetic disorder choose to no longer put themselves in the running to conceive a child. According to The Journal of Health, many medical malpractice claims have been brought against doctors by parents of children born with genetic diseases. In most of these cases, the parents allege either that the physicians failed to inform the parents of the availability of genetic testing for the unborn child or that the physician negligently performed the genetic testing. These claims automatically make physicians, genetic counselors, and genetic testing laboratories possible defendants in civil law suits. As the patient or victim, it is a crushing moment to find out that someone failed to do their job and now an innocent life is being brought unwanted into the world. Patients have a Bill of Rights that must be followed by any physician or hospital. Patients have the right to access their own medical records. According to George D. Pozgar, patients may have access to information which includes, â€Å"that maintained or possessed by a health care organization and/or a health care practitioner who has treated or is treating a patient† (Pozgar, 2010, p. 396). With this right in place, patients should be able to prevent unwanted pregnancies from happening. This right makes for an open book policy in many hospital and physician offices. Patients now have access to their labs and records online or even in the physician’s office. The history behind wrongful conception is hard to determine with a timeline. It appears that when patients could have genetic testing done is when the number of cases started to arise for legal action being taken against physicians. One of the first reported cases was in 1974 with a family who sued their physician who performed a vasectomy after the couple’s fourth child. Continuing on from 1974 until present day, there are many patients that are affected from the actions of physicians all over. Currently, patients rely on medical testing to look for genetic disorders that can affect unborn children. Testing is becoming more and more advanced every day. Many pregnant have option to undergo genetic testing at twelve weeks to check for downs syndrome, trisomy 18, or trisomy 13. At the same time as these blood tests, an ultrasound test for fetal nuchal translucency is performed. Nuchal translucency screening uses an ultrasound test to examine the area at the back of the fetal neck for increased fluid. â€Å"Common tests during,†) During the second trimester of pregnancy a whole new set of blood tests are performed. Alpha-fetoprotein screening is done to determine open neural tube defects (ONTD) such as spina bifida, Down syndrome, other chromosomal abnormalities, defects in the abdominal wall of the fetus, twins – more than one fetus is mak ing the protein, or a miscalculated due date, as the levels vary throughout pregnancy. (â€Å"Common tests during,†) Some of these tests can come back negative when in reality they are positive or patients can also get a false-negative result. Patient now sign consents so that they will not sue the physicians when these rare occurrences happen. The way that lawsuits and malpractice suits have come up, the rate of lawsuits against physicians will continue to rise. It seems that physicians need to have malpractice insurance with higher premiums due to the fact the patients now are â€Å"sue happy†. Physicians are very careful about what information they tell their patients and with how tests and physical examinations are given. The more information and the more physicians explain circumstances to patients, the less likely a patient is to sue. There are patients who look for reasons to file malpractice suits against physicians. Wrongful conceptions or wrongful pregnancies do happen. There are many reasons for this unhappy occurrence to happen, physician wrongdoing, pharmacist tampering or misinformation given to the patient. No matter what the reason is that the conception happened, the parents of the unborn child are still going to be affected. To compensate for some of the mental and emotional damage that is going to be done with having an unplanned pregnancy, patients are choosing to sue physicians. References Pozgar, G. D. (2010). Legal and ethical Issues for health professionals (2nd ed.) Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Sullivan, Mary B. (2000, March 22). Article: wrongful birth and wrongful conception: a parent's need for a cause of action. . Retrieved from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-85016556.html Common tests during pregnancy. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/pregnant/tests.html Untitled. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.loislaw.com/gpc/[email  protected]

Great Beginnings in Pre-School Math

Early development of number concepts is critical in developing positive attitudes about mathematics at an early age. Special methods and activities will assist children to develop early numeracy skills. These methods will need to include the use of motivating and engaging concrete materials that children can manipulate. Young children need to experience a lot of doing and saying before written numerals will make sense to them. As early as two years of age, many children will parrot the words one, two, three, four, five, etc. However, rarely do they understand that the number refers to an item or a set of items. At this stage, children do not have number conservation or number correspondence. How You Can Help Your Child Engaging children with a variety of measurement concepts is a great start. For instance, children enjoy telling us that they are bigger than their sister or brother or taller than the lamp or that they are higher than the dishwasher. Young children will also think that they have more in their cup simply because their cup is taller. This type of language needs to be promoted and children need parental guidance to help with the misconceptions of these concepts through experimentation. Having these conversations at bath time is a great option. Try introducing and using a variety of plastic cylinders, cups, and containers in the bathtub with your child. At this age, perception is the childs guide, they do not have any other strategies to guide them in determining which has more or less, is heavier or lighter, is bigger or smaller, etc. A parent or daycare provider can provide great learning experiences to assist young childrens misconceptions through play. Classification is a pre-number concept that children need lots of experimentation and communication with. We classify on a regular basis without even considering what were actually doing. We look in indexes that are alphabetized or numerically arranged, we purchase groceries in areas of food groups, we classify to sort laundry, we sort our silverware before putting it away. Children can benefit from a variety of classification activities which will also support early numeracy concepts. Classification Activities Use blocks to engage young children to repeat the patterns... blue, green, orange, etc.Ask young children to sort the silverware or the laundry based on color.Use shapes to encourage children to determine what comes next... triangle, square, circle, triangle, etc.Ask children to think of everything they can write with, ride on, that swims, that flies, etc.Ask children how many items in the living room are square or round or heavy, etc.Ask them to tell you how many things are made of wood, plastic, metal, etc.Extend classification activities to include more than one attribute (heavy and small, or square and smooth etc.) Before Children Count Children need to match sets before they will understand number conservation and that counting is actually referring to sets of items. Children are guided by their perceptions. As a result, a child may think that there are more grapefruits than lemons in a pile due to the actual size of the piles and fruit. You will need to do one to one matching activities with young children to help them develop conservation of number. The child will move one lemon and you can move the grapefruit. Repeat the process so that the child can see the number of fruits is the same. These experiences will need to be repeated often in a concrete manner which enables the child to manipulate the items and become engaged in the process. More Pre-Number Activities Draw a number of circles (faces) and put down a number of buttons for eyes. Ask the child if there are enough eyes for the faces and how they can find out. Repeat this activity for mouths, noses etc. Speak in terms of more than and less than or as many as and how can we find out. Use stickers to make patterns on a page or classify them by attributes. Arrange a row of a set number of stickers, arrange a second row with more spaces between the stickers, ask the child if there are the same number of stickers or more or less. Ask how they can find out, but dont count. Match the stickers one to one. Arrange items on a tray (toothbrush, comb, spoon, etc.) ask the child to look away, rearrange the items to see if they realize the number of items is still the same or if they think its different. The Bottom Line You will have given young children a great start to mathematics if you perform the above activity suggestions before introducing your child to numbers. Its often difficult to find commercial activities to support classification, one-to-one matching, number conservation, conservation or as many as/more than/the same as concepts and you will probably need to rely on typical toys and household items. These concepts underlie the important mathematical concepts that children will eventually become involved in when they begin school.

Raising the Minimum Wage A Counter-Intuitive Solution Essay

While some believe that raising the minimum wage will resolve poverty issues and lack of pay with the signing of legislation, the raising of the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour (as advocated by President Obama and the Democrats) would cause the poverty issue to be worse than it already is; inflation would occur, employees would be laid off, and minimum wage employees would lose welfare benefits, thus offsetting the wage increase. The Government should consider the effects on the American economy as a whole, as opposed to just considering the wage at which certain individuals are paid. While some might argue that raising the minimum wage would provide for a living wage, the raising of the minimum wage would result in significant†¦show more content†¦If the Kroger Company were required to pay two to three additional dollars in operating costs, the effect on cost of living would have a negative effect, thus being counter-intuitive to the minimum wage increase. If only 2.9% of Am erican workers work on the minimum wage (Sherk), is it worth raising their wages only to increase the cost of living for everyone else? While many argue for a minimum wage increase in order for a living wage, not having employment as a result of a minimum wage increase would strongly demonstrate a counter-intuitive effect. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, a $10.10 federal minimum wage would mean a net loss of five hundred thousand workers in the American workforce (Congressional Budget Office). In addition, a strong example of this could be seen in July of 2013 when the city of Washington, D.C. talked about raising their minimum wage, and Walmart strongly disapproved of this. Walmart, considering setting up shop in D.C., threatened to abandon its presence in D.C., should the minimum wage be raised (Tull). As a result, DC missed out on a chance to gain several jobs for its people, but this did not occur because of a minimum wage increase. 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