Posted: September 27th, 2023

Writing Effective Lab Reports

Lab Report Write-Up
Each report should include the following:
Title page: (10 points)
Name, Course, Instructor
Title of experiments
Partner’s name (if you worked with a partner that day) (Separate page)
Introduction: (15 points)
Write one paragraph on background and purpose of the experiment. This should be mostly in present tense
format. (4-5 sentences minimum)
Materials: (10 points)
Give chemicals, materials and equipment you used in past tense prose format. Materials must be presented in a
bulleted format.
Methods: (10 points)
The methods must be in paragraph format and presented in past tense. If your methods deviated from those
listed in the handout be sure to give the methods you actually used in lab. Don’t begin sentences with numbers.
You may divide this section of the report into subheadings. For example, “Preparation of enzyme,” “Enzyme
assay,” and “Temperature and pH effects on enzyme activity” could be some of the subheadings you may
include.
Results: (10 points)
Record of data, including sample calculations, images, graphs:
Refer to tables in the report as Table 1, Table 2, Table 3 etc.
Refer to figures in the report as Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3 etc. Figures may include graphs, images, drawings,
chemical structures.
Discussion: (20 points)
Give a 1-2 paragraph discussion (three to five sentences each) of the scientific conclusions you drew from the
experiment. Results specific to the experiment are written in the past tense and the universal conclusions you
draw are written in the present tense. For example, “In our study, polyphenoloxidase oxidized catechol twice as
quickly as phenol and hydroquinone. Due to the observation that all three substrates exhibited some color
change it is concluded that polyphenoloxidase exhibits group specificity.”
Conclusion: (15 points)
Summarization of what you learn or gained from doing the experiment.
References: (10 points)
Include any references used for the experiment and/or the report. You must include your lab manual as a
reference along with 2 other outside sources for a total of 3 references at minimum.
Examples:
Websites: HYPERLINK http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/BIO181/BIOBK/BioBookTOC.html
http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/BIO181/BIOBK/BioBookTOC.html
Books: Stryer, L. Biochemistry, 3rd Ed. New York: W.H. Freeman, 1988.
This document is courtesy of: http://web.calstatela.edu/faculty/jmomand/Format%20of%20Lab%20Reports.pdf Microbiology lab report
Lab report experiment on negative and positive simple stain using e.coli

References

http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/BIO181/BIOBK/BioBookTOC.html

http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/BIO181/BIOBK/BioBookTOC.html

http://web.calstatela.edu/faculty/jmomand/Format%20of%20Lab%20Reports.pdf

Writing Effective Lab Reports
Introduction
Laboratory experiments are a core component of science education. Through hands-on experimentation, students are able to observe scientific principles in action and test hypotheses. A key part of any lab experience is effectively communicating the methods, results, and conclusions in a written lab report. The structure and format of a lab report is important for clearly conveying the experiment and findings to readers. This article will outline best practices for writing lab reports based on guidelines from scientific journals and universities.
Report Structure

Most lab reports follow a standard structure including distinct sections for the title, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and references. Adhering to this format helps ensure all relevant information is included and easy for readers to follow.
The title should be concise but descriptive, capturing the essence of the experiment in 1-2 lines. It is important to include the key variables or concepts investigated. For example, a title like “The Effect of Temperature on Enzyme Activity” succinctly communicates the focus of the study.
The introduction provides background context on the topic and states the specific purpose or research question of the experiment (Calfee & Miller, 2007). It should be written in the past or present tense and include 4-5 sentences summarizing relevant theory and leading into the experiment’s aims. Well-written introductions help readers understand the significance and motivation for the work.
Materials and Methods
The materials and methods sections provide detailed descriptions of the experimental procedures and conditions. This allows others to replicate and build upon the study.
The materials section lists in paragraph or bulleted form all chemicals, equipment, organisms, etc. used. It should be written in the past tense since these are the items that were employed.
Methods are presented in the past tense as well since they describe the steps that were carried out. Paragraph format is preferred over lists, with subheadings to organize different parts of the protocol if needed. Any deviations from a standard procedure should be noted. Descriptions need sufficient operational detail that another scientist could perform the experiment but do not need to state common lab techniques.
Results
This section concisely reports the quantitative and qualitative experimental observations and measurements without interpretation. Data is typically presented in tables and figures with descriptive captions rather than embedded in the paragraph text for clarity and impact.
Tables contain the raw or processed quantitative data from the study, often with statistical analysis. Figures display images, diagrams or graphs to visualize trends. Both should be referenced numerically in the text (e.g. “as shown in Table 1…”).
Discussion
The discussion section analyzes and interprets the results in the context of the original research question or hypothesis. It compares findings to relevant theories and previous studies, noting agreement, disagreement and possible explanations for discrepancies. Limitations of the study design and suggestions for future work may also be discussed. Present tense is appropriate here since conclusions generally apply broadly.
The conclusion succinctly restates the key findings and their significance. It does not introduce new information but ties together how the results informed the initial problem or adds to the general understanding of the topic.
References
References should be cited in the text by author and date using the American Psychological Association (APA) style. The reference list at the end provides full publication details of these citations, alphabetically by author’s last name. At minimum, the lab manual and two other scholarly sources from 2016 or later should be included. References establish the scientific credibility of a report and allow readers to investigate topics in more depth.

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