HOW TO PRESENT A LABORATORY REPORT
Sections of the Report
Sections of the Report
- Title
- Objective
- Hypothesis
- Materials
- Procedure
- Data/Observations
- Analysis
- Conclusion
- This is your cover sheet.
- Should be in the center in capital letters.
- Name, number, period, subject, teacher, and date should be in the top right corner.
- Indicate the purpose or objective.
- Sometimes is indicated in the lab handout.
- If it is not indicated write what you think the purpose is after reading it completely.
- Based on prior knowledge, state which are the expected results for this lab activity.
- List all the materials to be used.
- Specify the characteristics.
- Specify the amount.
- List all the steps of the experiment in order.
- The lab report should speak for itself.
- In certain cases you may omit materials and procedure making a reference to the handout.
- Display all data in a neat, clear, and organized manner.
- All data follows logical order (independent variable increases or decreases).
- Tables, graphs, diagrams, charts, measurements, and all observations.
- Use graph paper for graphs.
- All data obtained must be kept intact in the notebook.
- This data should never be erased.
- All data must have units and observe significant figures.
- All graphs need to have titles, axis labeled with units, proper usage of space, and correct relationship between the data collected.
- All graphs have a title with the dependent variable as a function of the independent variable.
- Graphs follow one of the following trends: straight line, parabola, hyperbola. Do not play the connect the dots. Look at the big picture and draw the best-fitted curve or line.
- Compare/contrast data obtained by the same individual.
- Compare/contrast data between different individuals.
- Compare/contrast data for different trials.
- Compare/contrast results obtained by different groups.
- Try to find the reasons why those results were obtained.
- Look for sources of errors (human, instrument, experiment, etc.).
- Explain how this sources of errors affect the results.
- Look for ways to reduce or eliminate them.
- Suggest ways to improve the experiment.
- Suggest follow up experiments.
- Make references to literature.
- Make some predictions based on your results.
- Evaluate the reliability of the experiment.
- Interpret all the results.
- Answer all the questions initially posed.
- It should reflect what you learned
- It is a summary of what the experiment demonstrated or was supposed to demonstrate.
- It should state whether the purpose was reached or not; if it answers the question(s) initially posed.
- It should state whether the hypothesis (if there was any) was right or wrong specifying a percentage of error (wherever possible).
- It must be proven by the data obtained
- It must state the reliability of the experiment.
- Do not use personal pronouns. Always write impersonally.
- Typed or neatly handwritten. No erasures.
- Neat cover page with a diagram or drawing representing what the experiment was about.
- Papers stapled in logical order.
- All charts and tables constructed with a ruler or straight edge.