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How to write a
lab report

 Scientists perform experiments to test hypotheses

about biological phenomenon
After experiments are completed and duplicated,
a lab report is written to convey the results of the
experiments and also to either persuade others to
accept the hypotheses or simply to keep an
archive of the investigation carried out for future
use

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Need for a lab report

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A scientific report usually consists of the

following:
Title
Hypothesis
Objective
Variables
Introduction
Materials and methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Literature cited

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Format

1. The title

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Should be less than 10 words and should reflect

the factual content of the report

2. The hypothesis

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A single sentence to give a logical explanation for

the phenomenon observed

3. The objective

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The aim of the experiment which is to prove the

hypothesis

 The 3 sets of variables should be identified for the

experiment:
(i) independent variables
(ii) dependent variables
(iii) constants

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4. Variables

Introduction defines the subject of the report

It must outline the objective(s) of the scientific
investigation carried out and should give the
reader sufficient background to understand the
rest of the report.

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5. The introduction

The introduction
A good introduction should be able to address the
following:
1. Why was this study performed?
Answers to this question may be derived from
observations of nature or from the literature
2. What knowledge already exists about this subject?
The answer to this question must review the
literature, showing the historical development of
an idea and including the confirmations, conflicts,
and gaps in existing knowledge.
3. What is the specific purpose of this study?
The specific hypotheses and experimental design
pertinent to investigating the topic should be
described

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 This section tells the reader how and with what

the work was done.
You should try to strike a balance between an
over-detailed description of even the most trivial
items and a very sketchy statement that provides
insufficient information. The important guideline is
that another worker of similar training and ability,
following your description, should get the same
results.
Note that this section should be written as a
description of what you did, not as a set of
instructions.
A drawing of the experimental apparatus can also
be provided.

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6. Material and Methods

7. The Results
The data should be organized into tables, figures, graphs,
photographs, and so on. Data should be tabulated and/or
graphed and described.
All figures and tables should have descriptive titles and
should include a legend explaining any symbols,
abbreviations, or special methods used. Figures and tables
should be numbered separately and should be referred to in
the text by number, for example:
Figure 1 shows that the activity decreased after five
minutes.
The activity decreased after five minutes (fig. 1).
Figures and tables should be self-explanatory; that is, the
reader should be able to understand them without referring
to the text. All columns and rows in tables and axes in
figures should be labeled.

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The results section should summarize the data from the

experiments without discussing their implications.
Data presentation is in a logical and highly legible form.

 This section serves two functions:

1. First, it provides a place where the data may be
fully discussed and interpreted,
2. Second, it allows the author to delve into the
realms of speculation. Here one may address
questions like "why did something unexpected
happen?" ; "what would happen if the reaction
were carried out at higher pH?"; "why did the
expected results not materialize?"
In writing this section, you should explain the logic
that allows you to accept or reject your original
hypotheses.
Suggestions for the improvement of techniques or
experimental design may also be included here.

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8. Discussion

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Excellent
data
analysis,
evaluation
and
interpretation of experimental results of the
highest order is necessary to show an insightful
understanding of the concepts involved. Written
expression must be of a very high standard.
The discussion should also demonstrate excellent
evaluation of experimental procedure with
insightful identification of sources of error. It must
be well-structured and expressed perceptively in
writing.

9. Conclusion

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Based on the results, an appropriate conclusion is

made.
Valid conclusions made from the results that
relate directly to the aim.

 Why using references?

To give credit to the originator
The reader has to be able to find the original
text and
read it for themself

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10. Literature cited/References

Reference list
Bolt R. (2003a) How to use thin layer chromatography.
Microbiology, 2, (p. 673-678).
Bolt R. (2003b) A novel technique to analyze quorum sensing
signals. Appl. Environ.
Microbiol. 9, (p. 24-32).
Ericson H., Fagerlind M., Holmn J. and Gustafsson E. (2001)
Risk factors of preterm
birth. Clin. Microbiol. 10, (p. 124-130).
Magnusson B. and Nilsson A. (1994) Thin layer chromatography
(p. 75-77). (4th edition). Oxford: Blackwell science.
The Swedish institute for infectious disease control (2008) Data
and statistics Syphilis. Available at:
http://www.smittskyddsinstitutet.se/inenglish/statistics/syphilis/#statisticsnav [collected 2008.09.17].

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Full information of the references

Reports from the Internet

Authorship, year, title (italics), address to the
webpage (no underlining), when you accessed it (in box
brackets)
1. Robinson F., Svensson M. and Ericson H. (2006) How to use
thin layer chromatography. Available at:
http://www.his.se/ivn/tlcguide.html [collected
2008.09.01].
2.The Swedish institute for infectious disease control (2008)
Data and statistics Syphilis. Available at:
http://www.smittskyddsinstitutet.se/inenglish/
statistics/syphilis/#statistics-nav [collected 2008.09.17].

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Reference list

Books
Authorship, year, title (italics), page numbers
(helps the reader), edition, place of publication
and publisher
1. Magnusson B. and Nilsson A. (1994) Thin layer
chromatography (p. 75-77). (4th edition). Oxford:
Blackwell science.

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Reference list

Articles
Authorship, year, title, journal (abbreviatied and in
italics), volume number (italics), pages.
1)Ericson H., Fagerlind M., Holmn J. and Gustafsson
E. (2001)
Risk factors of preterm birth. Clin. Microbiol,
10, (p. 124130).

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Reference list

Reference list
1. Bolt R. (2003a) How to use thin layer chromatography. Microbiology,
2, (p. 673-678).
2. Bolt R. (2003b) A novel technique to analyze quorum sensing signals.
Appl. Environ.
Microbiol. 9, (p. 24-32).
3. Ericson H., Fagerlind M., Holmn J. and Gustafsson E. (2001) Risk
factors of preterm
birth. Clin. Microbiol. 10, (p. 124-130).
4. Magnusson B. and Nilsson A. (1994) Thin layer chromatography (p.
75-77). (4th
edition). Oxford: Blackwell science.
5. The Swedish institute for infectious disease control (2008) Data and
statistics
Syphilis. Available at: http://www.smittskyddsinstitutet.se/inenglish/statistics/syphilis/#statisticsnav [collected 2008.09.17].

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Full information of the references

An ideal lab report should demonstrate

excellent and appropriate use of biological
terms throughout. A very thorough written
understanding of biological concepts should be
shown.
All scientific names (genus and species) must
be italicized. (Underlining indicates italics in a
typed paper.)
Use the metric system of measurements.
Numbers should be written as numerals when
they are greater than ten or when they are
associated with measurements
Never start a sentence with numerals. Spell all
numbers beginning sentences.

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General Comments on
Style

 Be sure to divide paragraphs correctly and

to use starting and ending sentences that
indicate the purpose of the paragraph. A
report or a section of a report should not be
one long paragraph.
Every sentence must have a subject and a
verb.
Avoid using the first person, I or we, in
writing. Keep your writing impersonal, in
the third person. Instead of saying, "We
weighed the frogs and put them in a glass
jar," write, "The frogs were weighed and put
in a glass jar."

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General Comments on
Style

 Avoid the use of slang and the overuse

of contractions.
Be consistent in the use of tense
throughout a paragraph--do not switch
between past and present. It is best to
use past tense.
Be sure that pronouns refer to
antecedents. For example, in the
statement,
"Sometimes
cecropia
caterpillars are in cherry trees but they
are hard to find," does "they" refer to
caterpillars or trees?

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General Comments on
Style

 After writing a report, read it over, watching

especially for lack of precision and for ambiguity.
Each sentence should present a clear message.
The following examples illustrate lack of precision:
"The sample was incubated in mixture A minus B
plus C." Does the mixture lack both B and C or
lack B and contain C?
The title "Protection against Carcinogenesis by
Antioxidants" leaves the reader wondering
whether antioxidants protect from or cause
cancer.
The only way to prevent such errors is to read and
think about what you write. Learn to reread and
edit your work.

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General Comments on
Style

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Good Luck!