Take a moment to think a bit about the learning objectives for this lab course. These were listed on the lab homepage, but as a reminder we provide them again here.
For the introductory physics laboratories here at the University of Chicago, we have adopted a set of learning objectives. By the end of this course, you should be able to do the following:
- collect data and revise an experimental procedure iteratively and reflectively;
- evaluate the process and outcomes of an experiment quantitatively and qualitatively;
- extend the scope of an investigation whether or not results come out as expected;
- communicate the process and outcomes of an experiment; and
- conduct an experiment collaboratively and ethically.
Put succinctly, the goal is to understand how we know, not what we know.*
* These goals were first outlined by the Physics Education Research Lab at Cornell University for labs at all levels, but especially for introductory labs. You can read more about the philosophy behind these learning goals here.)
Drawing scientifically appropriate and meaningful conclusions is not easy. It is a skill which is learned and which you develop over time. Here are some thoughts to guide you in drawing conclusions from your lab work.
The conclusion is your interpretation and discussion of your data.
- What do your data tell you?
- How do your data match the model (or models) you were comparing against, or to your expectations in general? (Sometimes this means using the $t^{\prime}$ test, but other times it means making qualitative comparisons.)
- Were you able to estimate uncertainties well, or do you see room to make changes or improvements in the technique?
- Do your results lead to new questions?
- At the end of the lab period were there things you learned about what you did and how you did it that you could use to improve your experiment and obtain more precise results?
Remember… your goal is not to discover some “correct” answer. In fact, approaching any experiment with that mind set is the wrong thing to do. You must always strive to reach conclusions which are supported by your data, regardless of what you think the “right” answer should be. Never should you state a conclusion which is contradicted by the data. Stating that the results of your experiment are inconclusive, or do not agree with theoretical predictions is completely acceptable if that is what your data indicate. Trying to shoehorn your data into agree with some preconceived expectation when you cannot support that claim is actually considered to be fraudulent, don't do that.
REMINDER: Your post-lab assignment is due 48 hours before your next meeting. Submit a single PDF on Canvas.
Even though you worked as part of a group in the lab, and submitted one group notebook, your individual conclusions must be your own work.
Your conclusions should not require more than one or two pages of text, though the final document may be longer if you include plots of data. The focus of your writeup should be on the final conclusions which you are able to draw based on your work in the lab. Assume that the reader, i.e. your TA, knows what the lab is about and has access to your groups notebook. As such you do NOT need to write about the following:
- Background and motivation for the experiment.
- Theory.
- Details of apparatus used.
You are expected to clearly articulate your conclusions and discuss how your data support those conclusions.