Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hello, My name is edmund. I am doing a science fair with my class and I do not know the difference between a research plan and final report, and I don't know what to put in my lab book.

Thanks!

Hello Edmund,

A research plan is an outline you prepare to help guide your background research. A final report describes your experiment, results and conclusions. You should write down relevant notes about your experimental procedures and observations in your lab notebook.

Science Buddies has a project guide with information on preparing a research plan, final report, lab notebooks and other documents. You can view the project guide here:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... ience-fair

Information on research plans is here:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... earch-plan

Information on final reports is here:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... nal-report

And information on lab notebooks is here:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... m#overview

I hope this helps. Please ask again if you have more questions.

A. Norman

Ok. Thanks!
Also, what am I supposed to write in my lab book? Is it just notes from my experiment, or do I write my final research paper in it as well?

Thanks in advance!

--
Ed

Hi Edmund,

Don't write your final report in your lab notebook. Use your lab notebook to make notes about materials, procedures, and experimental plans and to record your results. More details about using a lab notebook are at the following link:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... abnotebook

I hope this helps. Please ask again if you have more questions.

A. Norman

Thanks! I'll remember to ask you if I have any more questions. Thanks for your help!