Lab Report FormatA typical lab report would include the following sections: title, abstract, introduction, method, results and discussion. Title page, abstract, references and appendices are started on separate pages (subsections from the main body of the report are not).
Error analysis should include a calculation of how much the results vary from expectations. This can be done by calculating the percent error observed in the experiment. The error analysis should then mention sources of error that explain why your results and your expectations differ. Sources of error must be specific.
Steps
- Restate: Restate the lab experiment. Describe the assignment.
- Explain: Explain the purpose of the lab. What were you trying to figure out or discover?
- Results: Explain your results.
- Uncertainties: Account for uncertainties and errors.
- New: Discuss new questions or discoveries that emerged from the experiment.
Typical Components
- Title Page.
- Introduction.
- Methods and Materials (or Equipment)
- Experimental Procedure.
- Results.
- Discussion.
- Conclusion.
- References.
How to Write a Scientific Laboratory Report
- Purpose: A brief description of why the experiment is being performed.
- Hypothesis: Provide a statement or two about the anticipated outcome of the experiment.
- Experimental Procedure: A step-by-step description of the experiment including the chemicals, equipment, and/or methods used.
To familiarize students with experimental apparatus, the scientific method, and methods of data analysis so that they will have some idea of the inductive process by which the ideas were originated. To teach how to make careful experimental observations and how to think about and draw conclusions from such data.
Conclusion outline
- Topic sentence. Fresh rephrasing of thesis statement.
- Supporting sentences. Summarize or wrap up the main points in the body of the essay. Explain how ideas fit together.
- Closing sentence. Final words. Connects back to the introduction. Provides a sense of closure.
How to Write a Lab Report Discussion
- State, in a sentence or two, whether results from the lab fully keep up with your hypothesis, don't support it, or support it with some exceptions.
- Include a paragraph that identifies specific data from your lab that led to hypothesis support or reject.
Think of the results section as the place where you report what your study found; think of the discussion section as the place where you interpret your data and answer the "So What?" question.
Laboratory reports are a vital part of the scientific process. Lab reports should communicate the important work you have done in lab so that someone who was not there can understand and replicate your results. They also propose future studies and experiments or suggest alterations to pre-existing methods.
Summary. Begin your Findings report with a brief summary of your experiment's results. You already went into detail on the experiment's procedure and data you collected, so this summary serves as a reminder to the reader. Use this space to mention the highlights of your results.
OBSERVATION is first step, so that you know how you want to go about your research. HYPOTHESIS is the answer you think you'll find. PREDICTION is your specific belief about the scientific idea: If my hypothesis is true, then I predict we will discover this. CONCLUSION is the answer that the experiment gives.
In Practice
- Include an overview of the topic in question, including relevant literature.
- Explain what your experiment might contribute to past findings.
- Keep the introduction brief.
- Avoid giving away the detailed technique and data you gathered in your experiment.
Definition. The results section of the research paper is where you report the findings of your study based upon the information gathered as a result of the methodology [or methodologies] you applied. The results section should simply state the findings, without bias or interpretation, and arranged in a logical sequence
Lab reports are written to describe and analyse a laboratory experiment that explores a scientific concept. They are typically assigned to enable you to: Conduct scientific research. Formulate a hypothesis/hypotheses about a particular stimulus, event, and/or behaviour.
Label and describe all figures. Focus on your most important findings. Use your data and results to justify your conclusions. Be careful how you describe your results.
In the opening paragraph of this section, restate your research questions or aims to focus the reader's attention to what the results are trying to show. It is also a good idea to summarize key findings at the end of this section to create a logical transition to the interpretation and discussion that follows.
Broken Lab Glassware Injuries
- Allow the wound to bleed, but do not massage it to remove any remaining broken glass.
- Wash the wound with warm water and soap.
- Apply first aid and seek medical attention.
- Follow your facility's safety plan if the injury is severe or if you were exposed to infectious materials.
Another important point about lab reports is that they should usually be written in third person, past tense. This means you should not use personal pronouns like "I" or "we." And all the procedures you used in your study should be written about as if they happened in the past.
The title of the lab report is so long because it is informing the reader what the experiment was. The abstract contains information on the background of plants, why the experimented was conducted, and the experimental results.
Your report must be TYPED, DOUBLE SPACED (except title and literature cited sections), with 1.0 inch margins. All section headings should be typed in all capitals. Indent each new paragraph, rather than skipping two more lines. All papers will contain excellent SPELLING and GRAMMAR.
A typical lab report should not exceed 10 pages (including tables and figures), single spaced, 12- point font. Do not use font smaller than 12 point.
Using the correct verb tense - Lab reports and research papers should be mainly written in the present tense. You should limit the use of the past tense to (1) describe specific experimental methods and observations, and (2) citing results published in the past.
This can be done briefly in about one paragraph (again depending on the length of your paper; for instance a lab report that is only 1 page of body can only withstand a couple sentences for this section).
Introductions
- Attract the Reader's Attention. Begin your introduction with a "hook" that grabs your reader's attention and introduces the general topic.
- State Your Focused Topic. After your “hook”, write a sentence or two about the specific focus of your paper.
- State your Thesis. Finally, include your thesis statement.
In a paragraph, or more if you need it, write out the objectives of the lab in paragraph form and then describe the purpose of the lab: what it is that accomplishing the objectives will help you learn about the scientific concept of the lab.
Here are some good rules to follow:
- Write actions out in the order in which they happen.
- Avoid too many words.
- Use the active voice.
- Use lists and bullets.
- Don't be too brief, or you may give up clarity.
- Explain your assumptions, and make sure your assumptions are valid.
- Use jargon and slang carefully.
