Lab Reports - How do I write a lab report?
Required components include; problem, background information, hypothesis,
materials, methods, data & conclusion.
Lab Report Format
1.Title
2.Problem
3.Background
4.Hypothesis
5.Materials
6.Methods
7.Data
8.Conclusion
TITLE: Descriptive of your project
PROBLEM: This may also be called the Purpose or Objective, and it may or may
not be phrased as a question. (e.g., �To find the relationship
between . . .�) In either case, the student must base the solution
(conclusion) to the problem on an analysis of the data he/she collected.
BACKGROUND - Information that has been researched or is already known
regarding the project. It needs to be written in paragraph form. This
section must help support the hypothesis that you are making.
HYPOTHESIS: A hypothesis is often referred to as an �educated guess,� which
is a prediction that will be tested in the experiment. A hypothesis that
is disproved does not make the hypothesis a failure; there is no need to
change the original (previously untested) hypothesis.
METHOD - This may also be called the Procedure.
The ability to replicate an experiment is one of the cornerstones of the
scientific process. As such the materials & procedure must be clearly
stated. A step by step process of how you completed your lab. The
procedure is to be written as bulleted or numbered steps.
DATA: These are the results of the experiment, presented in one or more of
the following formats: tables, graphs, or drawings (the form the data takes
is dependent on the experiment). The raw data tables are to be included in
this section. The data may then be organized into a different format or
table and then presented in a visual, graphic form.
CONCLUSION: The conclusion should make reference to the PROBLEM,
HYPOTHESIS , METHOD(especially in terms of the validity of the DATA), and
the DATA. All conclusions should be driven by the data. Conclusions will be
made by citing specific values and graphs from the data/results section. It
is essential that the student discuss any factors that may have affected the
validity of the data, and describe how to improve the lab. Additional
research questions may be given.
