This is gonna be very long but I have no idea what to do, I'm confused. Course Project Part 4: Conducting the Experiment and Recording Data
After much preparation, you are finally ready to begin conducting your experiment. Due to all the hard work you put into your literature review and planning your procedures, the steps that you need to take to conduct your experiment successfully have already been set. While you conduct your experiment, you will need to keep a daily journal where you record the activities you undertake that are relevant to the experiment and also where you record any data that you collect. This is your experiment log and serves as a record of your work while also allowing you to make a record of any changes or modifications you may need to make during the experiment.

Conducting the Experiment and Keeping an Experiment Journal
Following the procedure that you established in the previous part of this project, set up your experiment and begin running it. Every day while your experiment is running you will make an entry in your journal. Record what activities you completed (refer to your outlined procedure to make sure you are following the procedure that you established), any modifications that had to be made to your set up or procedure, and any observations or data you collect. Even on days when you do not collect data (depending on your experiment, there may not be data collection every day), make an entry in your journal. Each journal entry should be clearly labeled with the date on which it was entered. You do not need to type up all your entries, but make sure that your journal entries are neatly written, as they will be evaluated by your instructor.

Depending on the topic and design of your experiment, the period of time during which you conduct and record your experiment may range from one to several weeks. In consultation with your instructor, you will establish a timeline for the evaluation of your journal. If you are running a shorter experiment, your journal may be evaluated several times over the course of one or two weeks. If your experiment takes longer to complete, you may have a weekly review over the course of a month. Follow the guidelines provided by your instructor.

Collecting Data
All experiments generate data. This data allows the scientist to evaluate the success of the experiment and make interpretations about the results generated by the investigation. When you record your data, you must collect it as consistently as possible. Returning to the plant experiment, it would be best to measure the plants on a set schedule. For example, you might choose to measure the plants every Thursday at 3 pm. It is important to measure the plants at the same time each week so that the difference in growth you might observe is a reflection of the experimental condition, not simply longer growing time. Additionally, it is important to use the same instruments to collect data. The plants should be measured with the same ruler or measuring tape each time. This helps reduce any error or bias that might be introduced by using different instruments to make measurements. Whatever measurements or data you collect, do so in a consistent manner. Use the same instruments, the same scales, and record the data in a standardized manner. It is also a good idea to record your experiment using photographs. This will help you later during analysis and provides information for others who might be interested in recreating your experiment. Record your data in your experiment journal, where it will be reviewed by your teacher on an on-going basis. Submit your journal to your instructor according to the schedule you have established together.