Lab reporting

The Lab report can be a significant part of any laboratory course and in it you explain why you did a certain experiment, what you learned and what the results meant. Further you give a description of what you exactly did while you were doing the experiment (e.g. chemicals used and their concentrations, cell concentration, experimental set-up).

More than just presenting the performed experiment and the resulting data, a good lab report also demonstrates the writer’s comprehension of the principles behind the experiment and results.

Lab reporting Video Lesson

The Chapters of the Lab report

The Lab report is made of 5 chapters generally speaking, sometimes the results and discussion chapter is split in two or the results are independent, and the discussion and conclusions are combined. Refer back to your departments guide on how to split up your lab report chapters.

#1: The Introduction

The introduction chapter contains the background information to the experiment and also contains some background theory on the topic such as the main principles on which the experiment is based. Furthermore, some real-world applications are also given. The introduction typically answers the following questions:

Why are we doing this?
Why have we selected the methods we are using?
What could benefit by achieving the objectives?

#2: Objectives

The main goals you set out to achieve for the project/experiments are listed in the objective. The objective chapter is written in the present tense and it is a good idea to write this chapter before you start the experiments, so you can check in with yourself, if you are fulfilling all of the stated objectives.

The objective chapter usually answers the following questions:

What is the goal of the experiment?
What skills will you learn?
Where does this apply?

#3: Materials and Methods

The Materials and Methods section contains a description of the methods and procedures undertaken during the experiment. This section is written in the past tense. Also, give a brief background on how the methods work, but it is not necessary to explain each method in enormous detail. At the same time give enough detail, so that someone else can repeat your experiment without needing additional information; this includes details like chemicals sued and at which concentration, incubation times, voltages applied etc.

Next to this, the point of describing these methods is to demonstrate that you comprehend how they work and are able to interpret the data correctly.

#4: Results and Discussion

The Results section highlights the main results that you have obtained and provides some discussion on why they are significant. Here you will also discuss if results are different than what you expected them to be and why that might be the case.

Some results may lead into others so present them in a logical fashion and not necessarily in the order you obtained them.

Point out limitations that have applied when trying to interpret the data, do not over analyse your result as this can often dilute the impact of your data.

Try to be dispassionate when describing your results, assess the results for what they are and be objective. Graphs, pictures, diagrams, and tables are all possible visual representation of your data and find their home also in the results section. Importantly, never have any kind of figure or table in your results section if you do not reference that figure in the text.

#5: Conclusions

In the conclusion section briefly summarise what work you have done, what results you have achieved and why you think they are significant. As this is repeating aspects of all of your other sections keep it brief and to the point. At the end, you can also point out future possible research to answer questions left open after you did your experiment.

Language use in the lab report

Good scientific writing is:

Clear – Avoid unnecessary detail
Objective – Statements are supported by evidence
Impartial – Avoid making assumptions
Logical – Statements are presented in a logical structure
Simple – Use direct language, avoid being vague

COILS

Top Tips

Keep in mind that every discipline has slightly different requirements and norms for their lab reporting; ask your department for specific instructions.
Give enough information, so that someone else with a general understanding of your field understands what you did and why.
Give enough details so that someone else can repeat your experiments without needing additional information and details.

How to write a lab report - Gimme Two Minutes

Lab reporting