LAB REPORT FORMAT & GUIDELINES

Use the descriptions in this document as you compile your lab reports to ensure youre
communicating your experiments accurately and thoroughly. Remember! the point of
a lab report is to ensure that youre communicating your methods and results well
enough that if someone wanted to replicate your experiment, they could without any
complications.
I. TITLE
You must title your experiments lab report. The standard format is to entitle
your report The efects of (you !"#e$e"#e"t %&!&'(e) o" (you
#e$e"#e"t %&!&'(e).*
Your title section should also include your name, a list of your lab partners, and
the date(s) the experiment was performed.
II. INTRODU+TION
This section explains the purpose in doing this lab. What question is your lab
addressing !t is here that you gi"e bac#ground information on the general
topic that the lab is studying to help a reader of your lab report to understand
the problem.
III. ,-POT,ESIS & E.PERIMENTAL DESIGN
Your hypothesis is stated in the $If (independent variable, the" (dependent
variable, 'ec&use (a reason!"usti#cation for your hypothesis).% format.
&ere you also clearly state your !"#e$e"#e"t %&!&'(e & ho/ you0((
1&"!$u(&te !t, and your #e$e"#e"t %&!&'(e & ho/ you0(( 1e&sue !t.
I2. MATERIALS
&ere you ma#e a 'u((ete# (!st of ALL "ecess&y 1&te!&(s for your
experiment. 'ach material should clearly point out the amount needed of each
material, whether it should be prepared at room temperature, and any other
concerns rele"ant to its use in your experiment. (lso include si)es of
containers.
$% &%' describe how to use the materials yet( this comes in your next section
)ethods.
2. PRO+EDURE
This section is a list of numbered steps in the order that you too# to complete
the lab. The reader should be able to use this section to duplicate your
experiment exactly. Your description should be detailed, concise and speci*c.
Write in complete sentences (starting with a "erb and ending with a period) and
list exact amounts.
2I. RESULTS
!n this section, present your data. This section contains a summary of your data
in the form of 3&$hs o t&'(es. (ll of these should be labeled appropriately.
(http+,,nces.ed.go",nces#ids,createagraph, is a great website for creating your
graphs.)
This section is -ust for graphs, tables, and diagrams. $o not give interpretations,
explanations, or inferences of your data * this belongs in the discussion section.
2II. ANAL-SIS & +ON+LUSION
!n this section, *rst #&/ you co"c(us!o" 4 #!# you esu(ts su$$ot you
hy$othes!s5 Is !t &cce$te# o e6ecte#5
.ow discuss what your data mean / what can you infer from your results &ow
do your results *t with your bac#ground research (re there any wea#nesses in
your experimental design to consider next time !dentify the limitations of your
experiment, and generate new questions for a possible follow up experiment.