What should I do if I do not understand the results of an experiment?
First review the experiment’s purpose, procedure, recorded data, and calculations in order, and write down the specific results or terms you do not understand. Check measurements, calculations, units, possible procedural errors, and assumptions. Then ask the instructor or teaching assistant focused questions, and compare your interpretation with reliable references or, where appropriate, other students’ views. Do not force a conclusion or change data to fit expectations; record what is uncertain and how it could be checked, and use that process to develop your discussion.
Key points
- Check the purpose, procedure, data, calculations, and units systematically.
- Organize the difference from your expectation and your questions before seeking help.
- Consider errors and procedural problems without altering data to obtain a preferred result.
- Consult the instructor, teaching assistant, or reliable references when needed.
Things to check
- If there is a safety concern or equipment abnormality, stop the work and follow the person in charge’s instructions.
- Follow the course or laboratory’s rules for repeating an experiment and handling data; check the official course materials for specific procedures.