Writing a Lab Report—continued
Step 2. Experimentation—continued
The Conclusion
Once you have made careful observations, you can generate a conclusion. A conclusion is a statement that establishes whether the hypothesis is supported or not supported by the data.
It is easier to disprove a hypothesis than to prove one. In fact, in science there are no final answers! Science does not seek to prove anything (another myth dispelled); there simply are hypotheses which have not been disproved, but are supported by evidence, and so are accepted by scientists. When the number of hypotheses involved in a common phenomenon have not been disproved and have been supported by data over a long period of time, they may collectively become a theory. The term “theory” is often misused in our daily language.
It is important always to keep an open mind about hypotheses, because they may have to be changed in the future, depending on the outcomes of future experiments.
Suppose a student completes the following experiment. Read the report carefully, as it shows the scientific process in action. Notice, in particular, how the results of one experiment often produces new questions.
