Populations Lab

Some students have asked for the Populations L  ab requirements spelled out more clearly.  So here it is!

1. Focused Question:  Clearly states what is being tested in the investigation.  It is possible in this lab that you might have a secondary question,  and that is ok with me this time!
2. Background Information: 1-2 paragraphs of background of the investigation.  This can include your personal experience, research (cite the sources!), and educated guesses.  Generally a good background goes from more general information to the most specific and addresses your actual question.
3. Variables:  Here you list the dependent variable, independent variables, and the controlled variables.  You need to discuss how you controlled (or monitored) the controlled variables, barriers to controlling them, etc.  If you are doing a strict correlational study, then technically there is not a dependent and independent variable and you can say that.  However, if you are doing a t-test, then you can state that whatever varies between the 2 populations is the independent variable and what you are comparing is the dependent.
4. Procedure/Methodology:  This can be in a list format or paragraph, but either way, it needs to be detailed enough that another investigator could accurately reproduce your procedure.  Make sure that you include details about how you measured things, how many trials, etc.
5. Data Table:  Should be neat and organized.  Needs to have clear labels (a title can help!), units, uncertainty, and needs to have quantitative as well as qualitative data.  The qualitative data (observations) are often written under the quantitative table or can be included in the table.
6. Data Processing:  This can include calculations, graphs, or other visuals.  Calculations should show the complete work for at least one sample of each type of calculation done.  Graphs should be well-titled, have uncertainty bars (where appropriate), have good labels, units, annotation, etc.
7. Conclusion:  Refer back to your question and answer it using data to back yourself up!  When doing a t-test, it is important that you reference the averages of each group as well as the t-value result.  Use science to try to explain your results.  Discuss the impact of uncertainty on your results.  
8. Evaluation:  Discuss strengths and weaknesses of your investigation.  I would encourage you to list 3 strengths.  For the 3 weaknesses, you can list them in a table as we have done before.  Describe the weaknesses, you can list cause of the uncertainty/limitation and suggest possible realistic improvements for each of them.  Also, list further investigations that you could do next and why you would do them.