What is the primary purpose of the Claim/Evidence/Reasoning (CER) section in an experimental design?

The primary purpose of the Claim/Evidence/Reasoning (CER) section in an experimental design is to present claims backed by evidence and reasoning. This framework is vital for articulating scientific arguments clearly and effectively.

In this context, a claim is a statement or conclusion that answers the research question. Evidence consists of the data collected during the experiment, which supports the claim. Reasoning ties the claim and evidence together, explaining why the evidence is relevant to the claim. This structure helps ensure that scientific conclusions are not based on opinion but are grounded in empirical data, fostering a better understanding of the experiment's findings and promoting critical thinking about scientific processes.

The other options, while related to different aspects of scientific reporting, do not capture the essence of the CER framework. Summarizing the experiment or documenting results focuses more on describing what was done and observed, whereas outlining the hypothesis pertains to the initial expectations before conducting the experiment. The CER specifically emphasizes the logical connection between claims, the evidence that supports them, and the reasoning that justifies the claims based on that evidence.