Parts of a lab report
• Title
ABSTRACT-at the end!
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Abstract: A summary of what you did and what your data suggests (what you
found). 75-150 words
EXAMPLE
The purpose of this experiment was to measure and compare the spring
constant of a steel spring using two different procedures. First we
investigated the relationship between the force applied to a spring and
the displacement of the spring from its rest length. We hung various
masses from the springs, and measured the vertical displacement. We
found a spring constant of 2.94 ± 0.01 N/m. Our results confirmed Hooke’s
Law, Fs = -kx. In the second procedure, we set the spring into vertical
oscillation with a suspended mass and measured the period of oscillation.
Using this method, we found a spring constant of 2.98 ± 0.02 N/m. Our
results verified that the period of oscillation depended on the effective
mass of the spring and the period of oscillation. (128 words)
• INTRODUCTION:
• A good introduction does exactly what the word implies – it poses
the problem being investigated. In the laboratory, the instructor or
the textbook usually poses those questions. These questions
become the objectives of the experiment. A comprehensive
introduction also includes background information about the
problem being studied. In preparing the report, other sources
should be consulted, such as: laboratory manuals, textbooks, and
Internet/library resources. This is where your research goes. The
more info you give the better. At least 8 sentences.
• HYPOTHESIS: an “if..., then...” statement telling what you expect to
happen.
Research
• Research: what causes heartburn, what are
the symptoms, what are the common
treatments, how do those treatments work,
what is the optimal pH of the stomach, what
happens if someone takes too much
heartburn medicine
Materials
• Bullet point list
Procedure
• Step by step instructions
• listed as 1,2,3… steps
• They should be specific enough that a random person could
go into the lab and preform it the exact way you did it
• Present tense
• No I, you, we statements
• “Prepare the heartburn environment by pouring 5 mL of
HCl into 200mL of water”
Results
• RESULTS/DATA:
• This section of your report may actually include little
writing. Typically, data is displayed within tables or graphs.
These formats allow the reader to clearly understand the
relationships between different kinds of data. During
experimentation, cause and effect relationship may have
been noted (e.g., when the temperature was increased, the
reaction rate also increased). These types of relationships
suggest a logical format for a table or a graph. Be sure to
label: table columns, axes of graphs, and include titles.
• Passive tense (“The tums brought the pH of the heartburn
environment to a 5”)
Grading
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1 point off for each grammatical error
(2 pts.) Research Question and Title
(10 pts) Abstract
(15 pts) Introduction
(5 pts.) Hypothesis
Includes:
Independent variable (include units of measurement, if applicable)
Dependent variable (include units of measurement)
Constants
Hypothesis (“if..., then...., because” format)
(15 pts.) Materials and Procedure
(15 pts.) Results/data:
-Data Tables (properly labeled, with appropriate title)
-Graphs (properly labeled, with appropriate title)
-Calculations (if applicable)
-Visual representation (photo or diagram of experiment)
(18 pts.) Conclusion/discussion Includes:
-1 point for reference to purpose of the lab and the research question
-5 points for the evaluation of the hypothesis using specific observations
and data points
-5 points for drawing conclusions from the lab that relate to the scientific
theories or concepts based upon evidence from the experiment
- 2 points for the two sources of error
-2 points for addressing how you might improve the experiment if you
were to do it again in the future
(5 pts.) Overall Appearance and neatness/organization of report
(5 pts ) Bibliography
Conclusion/Discussion
• What is your conclusion based on the results you obtained.
How does it relate to your hypothesis. DO you accept or
reject your hypothesis.
• What were some things that could be improved on in your
experiment? What could you do different to make your
data more accurate or significant?
• 2 sources of error
• If you were to redesign the experiment how would you do
it differently?
• Who would benefit from the results of this experiment?
How?
• Who would not benefit or may be negatively affected by
the results of this experiment? How?
• BIBLIOGRAPHY:
• It is important to include a bibliography
including all sources of information for the
report. Information used in the report should
be cited, even if the information is
paraphrased. When the report has been
completed, it should be carefully proofreademphasis on style, content, spelling, grammar
and detail.
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Brainstorm ideas
Title
Hypothesis
Introduction
Materials list
Procedure
Bibliography
• You will want to create a heartburn
environment using hydrochloric acid, water,
and crushed up food (optional). You will want
to test each remedy on each heartburn
environment using pH paper.