PARTS OF A LAB REPORT
Introduction
This section tells the reader why you did the experiment. Include background
information that suggests why the topic is of interest and related findings. It
should contain the following:
Descriptions of the nature of the problem and summaries of relevant
research to provide context and key terms so your reader can understand
the experiment.
A statement of the purpose, scope, and general method of investigation in
your study. Express the central question you are asking.
Descriptions of your experiment, hypothesis(es), research questions.
Explain what you are proposing for certain observations.
Experimental (Materials and Methods)
This section should describe all experimental procedures in enough detail so that
someone else could repeat the experiment. Some guidelines to follow:
Explain the general type of scientific procedure you used to study the
problem.
Describe what materials, subjects, and equipment you used (Materials).
Explain the steps you took in your experiment and how did you
proceed (Methods).
Mathematical equations and statistical tests should be described.
Results
The results section should present data that you collected from your
experiment and summarize the data with text, tables, and/or figures. Effective
results sections include:
All results should be presented, including those that do not support the
hypothesis.
Statements made in the text must be supported by the results contained
in figures and tables.
Discussion
The discussion section should explain to the reader the significance of the results
and give a detailed account of what happened in the experiment. Evaluate what
happened, based on the hypothesis and purpose of the experiment. If the results
contained errors, analyze the reasons for the errors. The discussion should
contain:
Summarize the important findings of your observations.
For each result, describe the patterns, principles, relationships your
results show. Explain how your results relate to expectations and to
references cited. Explain any agreements, contradictions, or exceptions.
Describe what additional research might resolve contradictions or
explain exceptions.
Suggest the theoretical implications of your results. Extend your findings
to other situations or other species. Give the big picture: do your findings
help us understand a broader topic?
Reflection
The reflection describes and explains the impact and knowledge you learned
because of the experiment. Patterns recognized because of the experiment may
also be stated. This is also an opportunity to discuss any relevance between the
experiment and real-life (self, society, or environment). This section can afford
the opportunity to justify any adjustments made during the experiment.
Ensure appropriate scientific language, grammar and clarity of expression
must be always displayed.
Limitations
Sources of error must be identified. Sources of error may include
environmental, instrumental, procedural, and human. These errors can
either be random or systematic.
o Random errors – are unpredictable and cannot be replicated by
repeating the experiment.
o Systematic errors – produce consistent errors. These can be
replicated when the experiment is repeated.
Precautions taken during the reactions must be stated. Precautions are
steps that must be taken to ensure safety when conducting experiments
as well as to ensure that random errors are avoided during the
experiment.
Assumptions and Limitations
o Assumptions are basic rules which one must assume in order to
make observations during the experiment
o Limitations are parts of the experiment that keeps the scientist from
producing fair and reliable data. This may occur even in well
planned experimental procedures.
Conclusion
A summary of what was done and what has been determined from the results of
your experiment.
