• Writing Home
  • Writing Advice Home

The Lab Report

  • Printable PDF Version
  • Fair-Use Policy

This document describes a general format for lab reports that you can adapt as needed. Lab reports are the most frequent kind of document written in engineering and can count for as much as 25% of a course yet little time or attention is devoted to how to write them well. Worse yet, each professor wants something a little different. Regardless of variations, however, the goal of lab reports remains the same: document your findings and communicate their significance. With that in mind, we can describe the report’s format and basic components. Knowing the pieces and purpose, you can adapt to the particular needs of a course or professor.

A good lab report does more than present data; it demonstrates the writer’s comprehension of the concepts behind the data. Merely recording the expected and observed results is not sufficient; you should also identify how and why differences occurred, explain how they affected your experiment, and show your understanding of the principles the experiment was designed to examine. Bear in mind that a format, however helpful, cannot replace clear thinking and organized writing. You still need to organize your ideas carefully and express them coherently.

Typical Components

  • Introduction
  • Methods and Materials (or Equipment)
  • Experimental Procedure
  • Further Reading

1. The Title Page needs to contain the name of the experiment, the names of lab partners, and the date. Titles should be straightforward, informative, and less than ten words (i.e. Not “Lab #4” but “Lab #4: Sample Analysis using the Debye-Sherrer Method”). 2. The Abstract summarizes four essential aspects of the report: the purpose of the experiment (sometimes expressed as the purpose of the report), key findings, significance and major conclusions. The abstract often also includes a brief reference to theory or methodology. The information should clearly enable readers to decide whether they need to read your whole report. The abstract should be one paragraph of 100-200 words (the sample below is 191 words).

Quick Abstract Reference

  • Key result(s)
  • Most significant point of discussion
  • Major conclusion

May Include:

  • Brief method
  • Brief theory

Restrictions:

ONE page 200 words MAX.

Sample Abstract

This experiment examined the effect of line orientation and arrowhead angle on a subject’s ability to perceive line length, thereby testing the Müller-Lyer illusion. The Müller-Lyer illusion is the classic visual illustration of the effect of the surrounding on the perceived length of a line. The test was to determine the point of subjective equality by having subjects adjust line segments to equal the length of a standard line. Twenty-three subjects were tested in a repeated measures design with four different arrowhead angles and four line orientations. Each condition was tested in six randomized trials. The lines to be adjusted were tipped with outward pointing arrows of varying degrees of pointedness, whereas the standard lines had inward pointing arrows of the same degree. Results showed that line lengths were overestimated in all cases. The size of error increased with decreasing arrowhead angles. For line orientation, overestimation was greatest when the lines were horizontal. This last is contrary to our expectations. Further, the two factors functioned independently in their effects on subjects’ point of subjective equality. These results have important implications for human factors design applications such as graphical display interfaces.

3. The introduction is more narrowly focussed than the abstract. It states the objective of the experiment and provides the reader with background to the experiment. State the topic of your report clearly and concisely, in one or two sentences:

Quick Intro Reference

  • Purpose of the experiment
  • Important background and/or theory

May include:

  • Description of specialized equipment
  • Justification of experiment’s importance
Example: The purpose of this experiment was to identify the specific element in a metal powder sample by determining its crystal structure and atomic radius. These were determined using the Debye-Sherrer (powder camera) method of X-ray diffraction.

A good introduction also provides whatever background theory, previous research, or formulas the reader needs to know. Usually, an instructor does not want you to repeat the lab manual, but to show your own comprehension of the problem. For example, the introduction that followed the example above might describe the Debye-Sherrer method, and explain that from the diffraction angles the crystal structure can be found by applying Bragg’s law. If the amount of introductory material seems to be a lot, consider adding subheadings such as: Theoretical Principles or Background.

Note on Verb Tense

Introductions often create difficulties for students who struggle with keeping verb tenses straight. These two points should help you navigate the introduction:

“The objective of the experiment was…”
“The purpose of this report is…” “Bragg’s Law for diffraction is …” “The scanning electron microscope produces micrographs …”

4. Methods and Materials (or Equipment) can usually be a simple list, but make sure it is accurate and complete. In some cases, you can simply direct the reader to a lab manual or standard procedure: “Equipment was set up as in CHE 276 manual.” 5. Experimental Procedure describes the process in chronological order. Using clear paragraph structure, explain all steps in the order they actually happened, not as they were supposed to happen. If your professor says you can simply state that you followed the procedure in the manual, be sure you still document occasions when you did not follow that exactly (e.g. “At step 4 we performed four repetitions instead of three, and ignored the data from the second repetition”). If you’ve done it right, another researcher should be able to duplicate your experiment. 6. Results are usually dominated by calculations, tables and figures; however, you still need to state all significant results explicitly in verbal form, for example:

Quick Results Reference

  • Number and Title tables and graphs
  • Use a sentence or two to draw attention to key points in tables or graphs
  • Provide sample calculation only
  • State key result in sentence form
Using the calculated lattice parameter gives, then, R = 0.1244nm.

Graphics need to be clear, easily read, and well labeled (e.g. Figure 1: Input Frequency and Capacitor Value). An important strategy for making your results effective is to draw the reader’s attention to them with a sentence or two, so the reader has a focus when reading the graph.

In most cases, providing a sample calculation is sufficient in the report. Leave the remainder in an appendix. Likewise, your raw data can be placed in an appendix. Refer to appendices as necessary, pointing out trends and identifying special features. 7. Discussion is the most important part of your report, because here, you show that you understand the experiment beyond the simple level of completing it. Explain. Analyse. Interpret. Some people like to think of this as the “subjective” part of the report. By that, they mean this is what is not readily observable. This part of the lab focuses on a question of understanding “What is the significance or meaning of the results?” To answer this question, use both aspects of discussion:

More particularly, focus your discussion with strategies like these:

Compare expected results with those obtained.

If there were differences, how can you account for them? Saying “human error” implies you’re incompetent. Be specific; for example, the instruments could not measure precisely, the sample was not pure or was contaminated, or calculated values did not take account of friction.

Analyze experimental error.

Was it avoidable? Was it a result of equipment? If an experiment was within the tolerances, you can still account for the difference from the ideal. If the flaws result from the experimental design explain how the design might be improved.

Explain your results in terms of theoretical issues.

Often undergraduate labs are intended to illustrate important physical laws, such as Kirchhoff’s voltage law, or the Müller-Lyer illusion. Usually you will have discussed these in the introduction. In this section move from the results to the theory. How well has the theory been illustrated?

Relate results to your experimental objective(s).

If you set out to identify an unknown metal by finding its lattice parameter and its atomic structure, you’d better know the metal and its attributes.

Compare your results to similar investigations.

In some cases, it is legitimate to compare outcomes with classmates, not to change your answer, but to look for any anomalies between the groups and discuss those.

Analyze the strengths and limitations of your experimental design.

This is particularly useful if you designed the thing you’re testing (e.g. a circuit). 8. Conclusion can be very short in most undergraduate laboratories. Simply state what you know now for sure, as a result of the lab:

Quick Conclusion Reference

  • State what’s known
  • State significance
  • Suggest further research
Example: The Debye-Sherrer method identified the sample material as nickel due to the measured crystal structure (fcc) and atomic radius (approximately 0.124nm).

Notice that, after the material is identified in the example above, the writer provides a justification. We know it is nickel because of its structure and size. This makes a sound and sufficient conclusion. Generally, this is enough; however, the conclusion might also be a place to discuss weaknesses of experimental design, what future work needs to be done to extend your conclusions, or what the implications of your conclusion are. 9. References include your lab manual and any outside reading you have done. Check this site’s documentation page to help you organize references in a way appropriate to your field. 10. Appendices typically include such elements as raw data, calculations, graphs pictures or tables that have not been included in the report itself. Each kind of item should be contained in a separate appendix. Make sure you refer to each appendix at least once in your report. For example, the results section might begin by noting: “Micrographs printed from the Scanning Electron Microscope are contained in Appendix A.”

To learn more about writing science papers, visit our handout on writing in the sciences .

Illustration

  • Other Guides
  • How to Write a Lab Report: Definition, Outline & Template Examples
  • Speech Topics
  • Basics of Essay Writing
  • Essay Topics
  • Other Essays
  • Main Academic Essays
  • Research Paper Topics
  • Basics of Research Paper Writing
  • Miscellaneous
  • Chicago/ Turabian
  • Data & Statistics
  • Methodology
  • Admission Writing Tips
  • Admission Advice
  • Student Life
  • Studying Tips
  • Understanding Plagiarism
  • Academic Writing Tips
  • Basics of Dissertation & Thesis Writing

Illustration

  • Essay Guides
  • Research Paper Guides
  • Formatting Guides
  • Basics of Research Process
  • Admission Guides
  • Dissertation & Thesis Guides

How to Write a Lab Report: Definition, Outline & Template Examples

Lab_report

Table of contents

Illustration

Use our free Readability checker

Joe_Eckel_1_ab59a03630.jpg

You may also like

How to Write a Process Analysis Essay

Example of lab report 2

Scientific lab report example 3

Please avoid copying anything from them into your paper as that would be considered plagiarism . Make sure you submit 100% original text for your assignments.

Illustration

Connect with our academic writing service and say ‘ write my college paper .’ With our help, you will receive papers of great quality and will never miss your deadline.

FAQ About Lab Reports

1. what is the difference between a lab report and a research paper.

A lab report should showcase your ability to conduct experiments and properly describe your actions and findings. It is focused on specific data and methods used to analyze it. A research paper is expected to reflect your investigation of a problem, including asking correct questions and finding relevant information about it.

2. Should I continue to write a lab report if an experiment failed?

It depends on your assignment. If your primary goal is to display your ability to document your steps and results, then you may report on a failed experiment too. Particularly, analyze the integrity of your data or conditions that were set and make an assumption about factors which led to the failure.

4. Should lab reports be written in the third person?

Yes, laboratory experiment reports usually present information in third person. The reason is that you are expected to focus on the data, methods, and findings, rather than on yourself or your audience. Check the samples available here and see what writing style is followed there.

3. What tense should a lab report be written in?

You should mostly use past tense in your paper, since your science experiment has already been conducted. But you can also speak in present tense when describing the context of problems which still exist. Check any template available here to get more clarity on this issue.

5. Where do I put calculations in a lab report?

Remember to follow our layout guidelines and put your calculations in the analysis section. This is where you process the results collected during your experiments. You can also make brief write ups about your calculations in the abstract paragraph or discussion section, but make sure they precede the description of outcomes.

Joe Eckel is an expert on Dissertations writing. He makes sure that each student gets precious insights on composing A-grade academic writing.

A lab report  is a document that provides a detailed description of a scientific experiment or study. The purpose of a lab report is to communicate the results of experimentation in a clear and objective manner. It typically includes sections such as introduction, methods, results, discussion, conclusion, and references.

In this blog post, you can find lots of helpful information on writing a lab report and its basics, including such questions:

Several exemplary laboratory report samples are also offered in this article. You are welcome to use them as an inspiration or reference material.  Need expert help? Contact our academic service in case you are looking for someone who can “ write my lab report .”

Let’s start with the lab report definition and then dive deeper into details. A lab report is a document in which you present results of a laboratory experiment. Your audience may include your tutor or professor, your colleagues, a commission monitoring your progress, and so on. It’s usually shorter than a research paper and shows your ability to conduct and analyze scientific experiments.

The purpose of a laboratory report is to fully share the results and the supporting data with whoever needs to see them. Thus, your laboratory report should be consistent, concise, and properly formatted. Both college and scientific lab reports must follow certain strict rules, particularly:

Let’s talk about these rules in more detail.

Wondering how to write a lab report ? First of all, such documents must be descriptive and formal. An average scientific lab report is expected to:

Additionally, your school or institution may have its own very specific requirements, so make sure to check them before creating a report.

First of all, lab reports need to be informative, so there is no need for making your writing too wordy. That being said, your paper’s volume will be defined by the specifics of your research. If its results are complicated and require much explaining, your paper isn’t going to be brief. Recommended lab report length varies between 5 and 10 pages, which should include all appendices such as tables or diagrams. You should also confirm such requirements with your tutor prior to planning your report.

Plan ahead before writing your lab report. It is useful to keep its structure in mind from the very beginning. 

Here is our detailed list of what to include in a lab report:

You should shape the structure of a lab report before writing its complete text by preparing a brief write-up, i.e. an outline. Below we’ll explain how it is done.

Preparing lab report outlines is useful for extra proofreading: you can review such a sketch and quickly find some gaps or inconsistencies before you’ve written the complete text. A good laboratory report outline must reflect the entire structure of your paper. After designing such a draft, you can use it as a lab report template for your next papers. It is highly advisable not to ignore this approach since it can boost your general academic performance in multiple other areas. Here is an example of a science lab report template:

Now, let’s discuss how to write a scientific lab report. You already know what elements it contains, so get ready for detailed laboratory report guidelines. We’ve collected helpful information for each step of this guide and broke it down into comprehensive sections. So, scroll down and learn how to write a good lab report without experiencing extra pains and making unnecessary mistakes.

Before you write your lab report, think about a good title. It should help understand the direction and the intent of your research at the start, while not being too wordy. Make sure it is comprehensible for your tutor or peers, there is no need to explain certain specific terms because others are expected to know them. Here are several examples that could give you some ideas on how to name your own lab write up:

Also, check our downloadable samples for more great title suggestions or use our Title Generator to create one. 

A good scientific lab report should contain some explanations of what is the meaning of your experiment and why you conduct it in the first place. Provide some context and show why it is relevant. While your professor would be well aware of it, others who might read your laboratory report, may not know its purpose. Mention similar experiments if necessary. As usual, keep it short but informative. One paragraph (100 – 150 words) would suffice. Don’t provide too many details because this might distract your readers. Here is an example of how a science lab report should be introduced:

When learning how to make a lab report, pay a special attention to the hypothesis part. This statement will be the cornerstone of your lab writing, as the entire paper will be built around it. Make it interesting, relevant, and unusual, don’t use well-researched topic or state obvious facts - exploring something really new is what makes your work worth time and effort. Here is an example of statement for your lab report sample:

One of the key parts of a lab report is the section where you describe your assets and starting conditions. This allows any reviewers to understand the quality of your work and thus contributes to the credibility of your scientific lab write up. The following elements must be mentioned:

More lab report writing tips available below, so let’s keep on!

The core part of a lab report is describing the course of the experiment. This is where you explain how exactly the experiment has been conducted. Give all necessary information about each step you’ve taken, arranging all the steps in proper chronological order so that readers could clearly understand the meaning behind each action. The following procedure elements may be present in an experimental report:

After you have finished describing your actions, it is time to summarize them, answer all remaining questions, and present your findings. Check out other tips on how to write lab reports in a few sections below and you’ll learn more about that. Need professional help? Buy lab reports at our writing service to get efficient solutions in a timely manner.

After all the lab steps have been properly described, it is time to present the outcomes in your results section . Writing a good lab report means that it will be quite transparent for your reviewers how you’ve come to your results. So, make sure there is a clear connection between this part and the previous one. Don’t leave any gaps in your explanations, e.g. mention limitations if there are any. Tell if the captured statistical analysis data falls in line with the experiment's initial purpose. Describe sample calculations using clear symbols. Where necessary, include graphs and images. Your raw data may be extensive, so present it in the Appendix and provide a reference to it. Here’s an example of how to share the results when you create a lab report:

When you write an experiment report, your main purpose is to confirm whether your thesis  (hypothesis) is true. That’s why you should give a clear explanation on how useful your results were for the problem investigation. Next, make sure to explain any dubious or controversial parts, if there are any. Science lab reports often contain contradictions to popular theories or unexpected findings. This may be caused by missing important factors, uncovering facts which have previously been overlooked, or just by fluctuations in experimental data. In any case, you need to study and address them in your lab report for the sake of clarity. If you need some data interpretation in a science lab report example, here’s an excerpt from a discussion section :

Final step of your laboratory report is to make a proper conclusion. Here you just summarize your results and state that your hypothesis has been confirmed (or disproven). Keep it short and don’t repeat any descriptions from the previous section. However, you may add some notes about the significance of your work. After finishing to write your lab report, don’t forget to read it again and check whether all its parts are logically connected with each other. Here is an example of a lab report last section:

Another stage of lab report writing is composing its abstract. This part should be placed at the beginning of your paper in order to get your audience familiar with its contents. Make it brief, up to 200 words long, but make sure you’ve included the following information:

Abstracts of laboratory reports are delivered on separate pages. So, you can compose one after writing the entire text. This is another good chance to review your work while you are briefly describing its key parts. Check our detailed guide to get more information on how to write an abstract . Check below for more tips and hints on how to write a science lab report.

Learning how to format a lab report is crucial for its success. As all other scholarly papers, such reports must follow strict rules of presenting information. Make sure to find out which laboratory report format is required for your assignment. If there are no specific requirements, you may choose from the usual lab format styles, namely:

Depending on the scientific domain of your experiment, you might want to choose one or another lab write up format from that list. Particularly, the APA style paper is typically required in Humanities , while MLA style can be used for papers in Technologies or Applied Science . In any case, pay close attention to citation and reference rules, as each of these styles has strict requirements for that. A real lab report format example can be found below – note that it follows the APA guidelines.

Need some good examples of lab reports in addition to all these guidelines? We’ve got some for you! Each sample lab report that can be found below is available for free and can be downloaded if needed. Feel free to use them as an inspiration for your own work or borrow some ideas, styles, or sources from them. Pick a laboratory reports sample from this list below: Lab report example 1

We hope this detailed information on how do you write a lab report will be useful. In addition, to make our guide even more convenient, here are some quick lab report writing tips:

Don’t forget to check our laboratory report example for more useful ideas.

Let’s summarize all the above information on how to do a lab report. We’ve prepared a short checklist for you. So, here’s what you should do in order to compose a great science lab report:

In this article, we have prepared all necessary information on how to write a lab report. This should help you with your own research or studies, especially when it comes to complicated tasks, such as composing lab reports outline. Several lab reports examples are also available here. They are provided by real researchers and may help you a lot with ideas for your own work. Feel free to check them online or download them. Just remember that you should only submit 100% original content for your assignments.

  • What are lab reports?
  • Howto create an outline and structure reports?
  • How to write a lab report?
  • How to format your report?
  • Some extra tips and best practices to take into account.
  • Use valid research data and relevant sources
  • Include enough information to support assumptions
  • Use formal wording appropriate for scientific discussions.
  • Display your own research results
  • Contain assumptions, proving or disproving some hypotheses
  • Present the evidence (lab data, statistics, and calculations) in a comprehensive manner
  • Be logical and concise.
  • Title Page The first page must only include the experiment’s title along with its date, your name, your school’s name, and your professor’s name. All further descriptions and explanations should appear on the next pages.
  • Title Give a meaningful heading to your lab paper, so that it would help readers understand the basic purpose of your experiment and its background. However, don’t make it longer than 10 words.
  • Abstract This part is a formal summary of your lab experiment report. Provide all essential details here: what was the purpose of your research, why it was important, and what has been found and proven as a result of your controlled experiment . Keep it short, from 100 to 200 words.
  • Introduction Here you should provide more details about the purpose and the meaning of your research, as well as the problem definition. Related theories or previous findings can also be mentioned here. Particularly, you can refer to your previous lab reports on the same subject.
  • Methods An approach to solving selected problems is a critical part of a science lab report. You need to explain what methods you use and why they are optimal in this specific situation.
  • Procedure Provide a detailed explanation of all steps, measurements, and calculations you’ve performed while researching. Don’t forget about the chronology of these actions because this can be of crucial importance.
  • Results After you’ve described all the steps of your research process, present its results in an orderly fashion. It should be clear from your laboratory report how exactly they were obtained and what their meaning is.
  • Discussion In most cases any data derived from experiments can be interpreted differently and thus varying conclusions can be drawn. A scientific lab report must address such nuances and explain all assumptions its author has made.
  • Conclusion The lab report is expected either to confirm or to refute some hypotheses. Conclude your paper with clearly showing what has been proven or disproven based on your research results.
  • References As a scholarly work, your report must use valid sources for analysis and discussion of the results. You should provide proper references for these sources each time you are using certain data taken from them.
  • Graphs, Tables and Figures It is important to illustrate your findings when writing lab reports. The data you’ve obtained may be obvious for you, but not for your readers. Organize it into tables,  flow chart , or schemas and put these illustrative materials at the end of your lab report paper as appendices.
  • Research subjects E.g. raw data samples you analyze or people you interview.
  • Conditions Your experiment must be limited to certain space, time period or domain; and the factors influencing your independent and dependent variables need to be mentioned as well.
  • Methods You are expected to follow specific rules (e.g. from your lab manual) when analyzing your subjects and calculating your analysis results.
  • Materials Mention all tools and instruments employed to collect data and name each item model.
  • Processing raw data
  • Observing processes
  • Taking measurements
  • Making calculations
  • Observing trends
  • Comparing calculation results to other researchers’ results or to some reference values, etc.
  • Problem statement description
  • Overview of materials, methods, and procedures
  • Think things through before starting your research. Do you have enough data for it and can you organize appropriate conditions and equipment for conducting experiments?
  • Don’t skip writing the sketch version first. Outlines help to form lab reports layout and avoid logical gaps.
  • Take notes while conducting your experiment – unfortunately, it’s very easy to forget important details when you describe it later.
  • Double check yourself when making calculations. The more complicated they are, the more error-prone your entire report is.
  • Pick your sources carefully. You should only use valid and peer-reviewed scientific materials to retrieve empirical and theoretical information from.
  • Properly refer to each and every source you’ve used. Your lab writeup format is very important for your grades.
  • Pay attention to discussing weak points of your report. Try refuting your own results and hypothesis and see how you can counter that using actual data.
  • Maintain a formal tone and keep it straightforward. Don’t be too wordy and avoid providing irrelevant details.
  • Review your completed report several times, paying attention to layouts of different sections. If possible, ask some peer students or colleagues to do it for you – they might notice some missing details or weak assumptions.
  • checkbox I completed all calculations on the experimental data and properly analyze my results.
  • checkbox I sketched my lab report layout by preparing its outline.
  • checkbox My thesis statement is strong.
  • checkbox I provided enough context in my intro.
  • checkbox I described methods, materials, and procedures in detail.
  • checkbox I conducted proper analysis, including all my calculations and assumptions in it.
  • checkbox I created illustrative materials if needed: tables, charts, figures etc.
  • checkbox All outcomes are discussed without omitting any of their weaknesses.
  • checkbox I wrote a brief but informative conclusion and show how the initial hypothesis has been confirmed or rejected.
  • checkbox I reviewed my laboratory report once again and wrote an abstract.
  • checkbox The title page and appendices are added.

What Is a Lab Report?

Lab report main features, how long should a lab report be, lab report structure, lab report outline & template, how to write a lab report step-by-step, 1. create a strong title, 2. introduce your experiment, 3. state the hypothesis, 4. present the methods and materials, 5. explain procedures, 6. share your results, 7. discuss and interpret your outcomes, 8. wrap up your lab report, 9. write your abstract, lab report format, lab report examples, tips on writing a lab report, lab report checklist, bottom line on lab report writing.

Lab Report Definition

•  Effects of temperature decrease on Drosophila Melanogaster lifespan •  IV 2022 marketing data sample analysis using the Bayesian method •  Lab #5: measurement of fluctuation in 5 GHz radio signal strength •  Specific behavioral traits of arctic subspecies of mammals.
Lower temperatures decrease the drosophila flies’ activity but also increase their lifespan. It is important to understand what temperature range is optimal, allowing them to feed and multiply and at the same time, increasing their lifespan to maximum. For this purpose, a strain of Drosophila Melanogaster has been observed for 3 months in an isolated lab under varying temperatures.
The temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit is optimal for Drosophila Melanogaster longevity and ability to multiply while being at a lower border of their normal zone of comfort.
Average lifespan and average birth rate was measured for each group subjected to a different temperature range. Additionally, statistical methods have been applied to confirm the correctness of the results and to minimize potential errors. Lifespan and birth rate values corresponding to each temperature range can be found in the table below. Optimal combination of lifespan and birth rate corresponds to the range between 75 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit, as demonstrated by the figure (see Appendix A).
According to the research results, the optimal temperature for Drosophila Melanogaster appears to be at the low border of the comfortable range which is considered normal for this species. It contradicts existing theories about Drosophila Melanogaster. However, this discrepancy may be caused by the longevity factor not taken into account by previous researchers. Additional experiments with larger sample size and extended timeline are needed in order to further investigate the temperature effect on the longevity of Drosophila Melanogaster.
As confirmed by the experiment conducted in an isolated laboratory on a limited population of Drosophila Melanogaster, the optimal temperature for both its longevity and activity is 75 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit. Certain contradictions with the existing theories can be explained by the longevity factor being overlooked during previous research. Hopefully, this experiment will pave the way for further exploration of the temperature effect on the lifespan of Drosophila Melanogaster.

lab report thesis

Princeton Correspondents on Undergraduate Research

How to Make Progress on Your Lab-Thesis Outside of the Lab

When writing a research manuscript or a lab report, I have been conditioned to complete all of my experiments first and then start by writing the results section. My mentors have always encouraged me to start with the section that ‘writes itself’, given that when you obtain your experimental results, you cannot alter them. I started the school year thinking I would use this approach for my thesis – focus strictly on experiments during the fall and the start of spring semester and transition into the written portion of the thesis during late spring semester. However, while I was at home and outside of the lab between Thanksgiving break and early February, I knew I could not spend more than 2 months without thesis progress. Although I did not have my results nearly ready by that point, I began to brainstorm different ways in which I could work on my lab-based thesis without access to the lab. In this post, I will highlight ideas and resources that can help you make progress on your thesis, even while you are outside of the lab. 

Begin Condensing Literature – Before I began conducting experiments, I did an extensive literature review on the methods that I would be using for my research. Specifically, my senior thesis is exploring methods to quantify the DNA breaks that occur in bacterial populations upon antibiotic treatment, so I analyzed in great detail the break types that are expected with the antibiotic class I was using in order to determine the best quantification methods. Although I had studied this before beginning my experimental work, I realized that I had not actually written this portion of my thesis yet. A significant portion of my thesis will be dedicated to experimental results and discussion, but the research related to my review of the experimental methods will also be included, as this will complement the rest of my data. Thus, a great place to start making progress outside of the lab is by outlining all of the literature readings that you have done. It may seem as if a lab-heavy thesis should only include relevant experimental results, but by taking a closer look at the literature, you will see other aspects of the research that are also worth highlighting in your thesis!

Attend Residential College Thesis Workshops – When I received the email about Butler’s Thesis Fridays workshops, I mistakenly believed that this would be a ‘writing workshop’, where students would be in a silent zoom room simply writing. This was not the case. After speaking with some of my friends that had attended, they explained that Resident Graduate Students (RGSs) were also in attendance – many of whom were conducting laboratory or field research in the molecular biology and ecology and evolutionary biology departments – and were available to answer questions from students. While attending a Thesis Friday workshop myself, not only did the RGSs help me organize and synthesize my reading materials, they also gave me suggestions on how to type up my protocols now in order to facilitate the process of writing the materials and methods section of my thesis later. Specifically, they told me that after writing a ‘step-by-step’ protocol, I should write a description in paragraph form and in past tense and third person in order to both prepare for the experiment I would perform and to prepare for the methods section. Given that the RGSs have years of experience reading and writing manuscripts, amongst other academic work, their input is very valuable throughout the process, and I will definitely be attending future Thesis Fridays as I continue to make progress on my thesis. 

Meet with a McGraw Grad Peer Coach – Similar to the role of the RGSs at the Thesis Fridays workshops, McGraw has Graduate Student Peer Coaches , and they are available to meet 1-on-1 with students to discuss different strategies to approach the senior thesis. In addition, the Graduate Peer Coaches are also available to answer more general questions about senior year, preparing for the post-graduation transition, and navigating through personal challenges that may present themselves throughout the semester. If you are looking for a mix of specific advice to help with thesis progress and advice on other aspects of senior year life that will help you reach a stronger, more confident state while working on your thesis, I encourage you to meet with any of the Graduate Peer Coaches! 

Work on Statistical or Computational Analysis – Depending on your research topic, it is likely that your experimental results will require either statistical or computational analysis. For my project specifically, the DNA sequencing data generated after my DNA break quantification experiments requires that I use a computational program to analyze my results. While I was at home, I explored the different programs and softwares I could use, including Princeton’s Galaxy workflow system and programs from other research groups that had been published on Github for research access. Princeton also offers remote systems , such as The Nobel System , so that you can access a Linux system remotely using any device, which allowed me to easily use even programs that had originally been designed only for Linux use. Thus, while I was at home, I worked on figuring out how to use this program. Even if you do not have any complete results yet – a situation that I found myself in during winter break – you can test sample data or work with your thesis mentors to figure out if any other lab members have similar projects that you can use as a reference. This will save you time in the long run, once you have complete results and are ready to begin analyzing. 

lab report thesis

— 

Lab work consists of a combination of experiments, data analysis, literature readings, and writing to present your results. While it is beneficial to get ahead in the experimental portion of the thesis early, as you will have enough time to adjust or change methods whenever necessary, it is also important to work on other aspects of the project as well. Those aspects include reviewing the literature, analyzing your data using statistical or computational methods, or receiving advice on how to even approach your thesis. Thus, being away from the lab, even if it is for more than two months, does not have to set you behind! Instead, use this time to get ahead in other areas of your thesis. 

-Saira Reyes, Engineering Correspondent

Share this:

  • Share on Tumblr

lab report thesis

UCI Libraries Mobile Site

  • Langson Library
  • Science Library
  • Grunigen Medical Library
  • Law Library
  • Connect From Off-Campus
  • Accessibility
  • Gateway Study Center

Libaries home page

Email this link

Writing a scientific paper.

  • Writing a lab report
  • INTRODUCTION

Writing a "good" results section

Figures and Captions in Lab Reports

"Results Checklist" from: How to Write a Good Scientific Paper. Chris A. Mack. SPIE. 2018.

Additional tips for results sections.

  • LITERATURE CITED
  • Bibliography of guides to scientific writing and presenting
  • Peer Review
  • Presentations
  • Lab Report Writing Guides on the Web

This is the core of the paper. Don't start the results sections with methods you left out of the Materials and Methods section. You need to give an overall description of the experiments and present the data you found.

  • Factual statements supported by evidence. Short and sweet without excess words
  • Present representative data rather than endlessly repetitive data
  • Discuss variables only if they had an effect (positive or negative)
  • Use meaningful statistics
  • Avoid redundancy. If it is in the tables or captions you may not need to repeat it

A short article by Dr. Brett Couch and Dr. Deena Wassenberg, Biology Program, University of Minnesota

  • Present the results of the paper, in logical order, using tables and graphs as necessary.
  • Explain the results and show how they help to answer the research questions posed in the Introduction. Evidence does not explain itself; the results must be presented and then explained. 
  • Avoid: presenting results that are never discussed;  presenting results in chronological order rather than logical order; ignoring results that do not support the conclusions; 
  • Number tables and figures separately beginning with 1 (i.e. Table 1, Table 2, Figure 1, etc.).
  • Do not attempt to evaluate the results in this section. Report only what you found; hold all discussion of the significance of the results for the Discussion section.
  • It is not necessary to describe every step of your statistical analyses. Scientists understand all about null hypotheses, rejection rules, and so forth and do not need to be reminded of them. Just say something like, "Honeybees did not use the flowers in proportion to their availability (X2 = 7.9, p<0.05, d.f.= 4, chi-square test)." Likewise, cite tables and figures without describing in detail how the data were manipulated. Explanations of this sort should appear in a legend or caption written on the same page as the figure or table.
  • You must refer in the text to each figure or table you include in your paper.
  • Tables generally should report summary-level data, such as means ± standard deviations, rather than all your raw data.  A long list of all your individual observations will mean much less than a few concise, easy-to-read tables or figures that bring out the main findings of your study.  
  • Only use a figure (graph) when the data lend themselves to a good visual representation.  Avoid using figures that show too many variables or trends at once, because they can be hard to understand.

From:  https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/guides/imrad-results-discussion

  • << Previous: METHODS
  • Next: DISCUSSION >>
  • Last Updated: Aug 4, 2023 9:33 AM
  • URL: https://guides.lib.uci.edu/scientificwriting

Off-campus? Please use the Software VPN and choose the group UCIFull to access licensed content. For more information, please Click here

Software VPN is not available for guests, so they may not have access to some content when connecting from off-campus.

Writing Intensive Curriculum Program

  • Commitment to Justice
  • Graduate Assistants
  • Graduate Interns
  • Undergraduate Team Members
  • Operations Manager
  • Advisory Board
  • WIC Mission
  • WIC Program Numbers
  • WIC & Accreditation
  • WIC Learning Outcomes
  • WIC Role in the Bacc Core
  • Program History
  • Culture of Writing Award Winners
  • Faculty Awards
  • Workshops & Talks
  • Faculty Seminar
  • Handouts with Annotated Bibliographies
  • Additional Writing Handouts
  • Writing Across Borders
  • Remote Teaching Tips
  • Writer's Personal Profile
  • Other OSU Resources
  • External Teaching Resources
  • Bibliography
  • FAQ on Teaching Disciplinary Writing
  • WIC Course Proposal Guidelines
  • FAQ on WIC Course Proposals
  • WIC Course Assessment Schedule
  • Get Writing Help
  • Find & Choose WIC Courses
  • FAQ from Students
  • 1. Writing to Learn
  • 2: Where to Begin
  • 3: Department Writing Guides
  • 4: Managing Your Time
  • 5: Research
  • 6: Drafting
  • 7: Citing Sources
  • 8: Revising
  • 8A: Making Peer Review Work
  • 8B: Revising your Draft
  • 8C: Eliminating Errors
  • 9: Where to Get Help with Writing
  • 10: Checklist
  • Spring 2022
  • Winter 2022

Microbiology Writing Guide: Lab Report Format

Organization and format, basic outline.

Scientific writing can be in the form of a laboratory report, a thesis, a journal article, or some other written communication used to disseminate the results of scientific research. The exact format required depends upon the type of written communication and often will vary from source to source.

Preparation of a Laboratory Report

A lab report differs from a paper in that it has defined sections. The sections required vary from laboratory to laboratory but the standard outline for most lab reports in the biological science include: title, your name, purpose of the experiment, methods, results, discussion and conclusion, references. Some lab reports may include a section of questions that must be answered concerning the experiment. Most laboratory courses will require that data be immediately written into a lab notebook in pen. Some labs will require you to attach these data pages to your report. Normally a lab report should be typed, spell checked and proofread before being submitted.

When writing a thesis, article for publication, or a report to turn into your supervisor, your first draft will be reviewed by your mentor and/or co-workers and then undergo revision. No matter how good a writer is, most reports require some revision. It is best to write your first draft and then let it sit for a few days before you read it the next time. Many times you are too “close” to the material after the first writing to see obvious errors. (This has definitely been true of this document!)

Sections of a Laboratory Report

Title : The title should be concise and specific and tell the reader what you did

Purpose : Most lab reports do not include a formal introduction and instead substitute a purpose. The purpose of the experiment should be stated in one or two sentences. You should know the purpose of the experiment before you start.

Methods: Most lab reports do not include all the details a journal article requires. Normally the procedure can be listed and referenced to the appropriate laboratory manual pages. If modifications have been made to the methods in the lab manual, these need to be clearly described.

Results : All data and observations should be included in the lab book; however, what you think should have happened or the methods section are not included. Types of results may include:

  • Measurements. Report measurements using standard metric units. Any time a number is presented, it must have units. Abbreviations of units are used without a following period. Use the prefixes m, m, n, and p for 10 -3 , 10 -6 , 10 -9 , and 10 -12 , respectively. Numbers should be written as numerals when they are greater than ten or when they are associated with measurements; for example, 8 mm or 20 g. In a list of objects including both numbers over and under ten, all numbers may be expressed as numerals. Example: 17 bacteria, 2 yeast, and 1 protozoan. If a number starts a sentence spell out the number, do not use a numeral. Example: ten mannitol salt agar plates were streaked…
  • Calculations. The equation should be indicated. In a lab report, even if you use a calculator, you must set up the problem.
  • Tables. Number each table and provide a title and legend that contains all the information needed to interpret the data. The reader should be able to understand the content without the text. The title should be located at the top of the table. Columns and rows should be labeled clearly. All notes should be placed below tables. Any abbreviations, units, calculations, or statistics used should be described in headers or footnotes (see Table 1 for an example). Symbols such as #, *, ! ; and superscripts such as 1 and 2 can be used to identify these footnotes. Use bold type to make these obvious.
  • Figures. Figures include graphs, photographs, drawings, diagrams, maps, and all other illustrations. All figures should be numbered and have a title and legend that contains all the information needed to interpret the data. The reader should be able to understand the content without the text. Figures should be labeled at the bottom. For a graph, units are specified on the abscissa and ordinate. If the photograph is of an object under the microscope, the total magnification should be indicated. Photographs of gel electrophoresis data should include a number on each lane, and the legend (or the figure itself) should indicate the contents of each lane.
  • Plate counts. Include results for all dilutions, even if they are too numerous to count (TNTC) or 0. You should indicate the type of medium plated and temperature of incubation. See Table 1.

Table 1. Results of viable cell count of diluted Escherichia coli grown at 37 o C in nutrient broth (1 ml plated).

*In this example, only 249, 235 and 35 are significant counts. These data are averaged:

249/10 -3 + 235/10 -3 + 35/10 -4 or 2.5 X 10 5 + 2.4 X 10 5 + 3.5 X 10 5 /3

= 2.8 X 10 5 CFU/ml

The text should refer to each table and figure and they should appear after, but close to, text that refers to them, (i.e., at the end of a paragraph or section). Alternatively, tables and figures may be placed at the end of the paper. Tables and figures are numbered independently of each other, and they are assigned numbers in the order they are mentioned in the text. The in-text reference to a table or figure should not repeat the caption (e.g. ‘table 1 shows “Title on table” ’). Instead, it should draw attention to key features (e.g. “Table 1 shows that the number of bacteria in the culture increased markedly between hours 1 and 4.”).

Discussion/Conclusion: The discussion section interprets the meaning of the results and draws conclusions from the data that have been presented. The authors should show how their observations relate to each other to form a cohesive story. If data can be interpreted in more than one way, all possibilities should be mentioned and the authors should indicate which alternative they think is correct and why. Results should be discussed even if they are unexpected or negative. For example, the presence of unexpected bands on agarose gels should be explained. This section should also address any discrepancies between these results and other papers. Material obtained from another source should be referenced.

The meaning of your results should be summarized in two to three sentences at the end of the section. This includes the potential implications of the research, and possibilities for future research that would contribute more to the field. In lab reports, experiments do not always work. This section allows the researcher to explain what might have gone wrong with an experiment.

References: The reference section gives complete details about sources that were cited, in any section of the text. A "Bibliography," on the other hand, refers to a list of materials used to obtain background knowledge on a subject. There are several standard styles for listing references. Depending on what type of scientific writing you are doing, you may be directed to follow a particular format. If so, follow the format that has been specified exactly. When references are cited, either the reference number or the author’s last name and the publication year are used. Example: “Some strains of E. coli can grow in orange juice (1)…” or “Some strains of E. coli can grow in orange juice (Brown, 1999)….” In this class, we will use the reference style of the American Society for Microbiology Journals. When references are cited within the paper , only the number is used. References are numbered in the order in which they appear in the article (citation-sequence reference system). No reference should be included that is not cited in the paper. Remember that ALL information within the report that is not your original work or idea should be referenced. Statements by other authors are usually paraphrased or summarized – direct quotations are rare in scientific writing.

<< Scientific Style || Citing Sources >>

Contact Info

Writing Intensive Curriculum Program Oregon State University 306 Waldo Hall Corvallis, OR 97331

Sarah Perrault WIC Director 541-737-3711

Caryn Stoess WIC Operations Manager 541-737-2804

  • Academic Writing Templates and Checklists
  • Choosing and Developing an Essay Topic
  • Citing with Purdue OWL
  • Eliminating Wordiness
  • Lab Reports
  • Providing Writing Assistance
  • Quotation Integration
  • Revising and Proofreading
  • Scholarship Applications
  • Thesis Statements
  • University-Level Writing Expectations
  • Writing Motivation

Lab Reports 

Before starting, review assignment expectations, learning goals, and the pre-lab report (if applicable). 

Common Structure (NOTE: Always follow your course laboratory coordinator and professor’s instructions): 

  • Title Page —Include course name, course code, title of lab  with clarification of type of lab (pre-lab, in-lab, post-lab, formal lab report), student name(s), McMaster student ID number, instructor name, lab section and TA name, if applicable include lab partner’s name & student number, due date, McMaster University.  
  • Abstract — Summarize major findings along with the problem and hypothesis. Clarify why the problem was studied and the approach used to study it. Describe major findings and conclusions.  
  • Introduction — Provide an overview of the experiment and discuss how the results expand knowledge. 
  • Include past test results (if applicable) with statements supported by the peer reviewed scientific literature in the proper citation format.  
  • Use present tense for theory, equipment, and report, and past tense for results and experiment.
  • Include the experimental design, apparatus description, methods for gathering and interpreting results, and controls used. Use past tense and the passive voice.
  • Results — Provide data and observations without interpreting their meaning or significance. Describe events in the order they took place. 
  • Include tables (raw data) and graphs (interpreted data), calculations: Tables, figures and graphs should be properly numbered and include captions. Include proper units of measurement and legends. Figures and tables should be organized and clear (no fuzzy images).
  • Include results that deviated from expectations (leave discussion for next section).
  • Maintain an adequate font size for graph legends. Use past tense.
  • Analyse results: How do they relate to previous studies? Why did they occur?  
  • Identify patterns and relationships: How did results differ from expectations? How do they relate to theory? 
  • Conclusions — Briefly restate the purpose, results, and concluding interpretations.
  • Include recommendations for further study and/or suggest changes to the procedure.  
  • Support statements with scientific literature. Include research citations in the proper format.
  • References —List references in the proper referencing format (as indicated by the instructor, TA, and lab coordinator). References should display strong evidence that has been recently published.
  • Provide measurements and legend. Place each appendix on a separate page. 

Remember to maintain a balanced perspective, use clear and precise language, and apply a logical structure. 

Improve your writing and study skills! Book an appointment with a writing advisor and/or academic coach on OSCARplus.  Questions? Email  [email protected]

Source: University of Toronto (n.d.). The Lab Report. Retrieved from:  UFT Lab Reports Writing Advice  

  • << Previous: Eliminating Wordiness
  • Next: Providing Writing Assistance >>
  • Last Updated: Oct 26, 2022 4:28 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.mcmaster.ca/c.php?g=718509

--> Read more » -->