ENGINEERING 12
PHYSICAL SYSTEMS ANALYSIS I
SPRING 2008
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FORMAL LABORATORY REPORT FORMAT
In this course, you will be asked to submit three formal laboratory reports. The format
described below is recommended, because it conforms to the range of methods widely used in
scientific and Electrical Engineering journals. It is important to keep in mind that your goal is to
present the information as clearly, completely, and also just as importantly, as concisely as
possible. If you choose not to use this format, you should have a good reason to do so.
As always, you should write in grammatically correct, complete sentences. I recommend
the use of the passive voice, as it is more formal and more widely used in my field, though it will
not affect your grade if you do not choose to take this last recommendation.
The format for the formal laboratory report consists of 9 sections. Each group will submit a
single report, using this format, for each experiment indicated with a dagger on the syllabus.
1. Title Page
This page should include the course title, the department/course number, the date, and the
names of the students who performed the lab and wrote the report.
2. Abstract
The abstract is a very concise summary of the experiment and the results obtained. It is
usually a single paragraph (just a few sentences) long, though in some cases, it may be
somewhat longer.
3. Introduction
The introduction serves to set up the reader for the rest of the report. It includes background
information, as well as a description of how this work fits into the broader/wider contexts of
the class, field, discipline, etc. It sometimes includes a description of the principles that
underlie the experiment, but the details of the work usually fit better into later sections.
4. Theory
This section is used to present and/or derive any equations that will be needed to understand
the experiment or perform the data analysis.
5. Procedure
In this section, the details of the way the experiment was performed, how the equipment was
configured, the way the data was collected, etc., are described. Please summarize the
procedure in your own words, and include any deviations from the suggested methods. It is
important to use the appropriate citations when referring to handouts or other materials.
6. Results
Include both results, as well as sample calculations when appropriate.
• Make sure results are clearly labeled and set off from the text somehow (eg, in a table
or graph), and not simply imbedded in the text.
ENGINEERING 12, SPRING 2008
FORMAL LABORATORY REPORT FORMAT
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• Think carefully about whether the information is better presented in a table, a graph, or
both. (It is not usually necessary to present the same information in both a graph and a
table, though it can occasionally be helpful.)
• Show experimental and theoretical results side by side for easy comparison, e.g. in the
same table or graph. In tables, include the percentage deviations of the experimental
results from the theoretical predictions. This is important!
7. Discussion
This section is used to demonstrate the significance of the results, and to explain why they
are or are not consistent with those that would be expected from theory and analysis.
• Discuss the significance, or meaning, of the results.
• Discuss discrepancies between theoretical and experimental results, and their likely
causes.
• Discuss any difficulties encountered in performing the laboratory.
• Suggest changes that could be used to improve the lab. These may be included in the
labs for future generations.
8. Conclusions and Future Work
The purpose of this section is to wrap up the lab and summarize what was reported. It is also
a great place to make suggestions for future improvements.
9. Acknowledgments
The purpose of this section is to acknowledge any collaboration or help that was received
during the experiments or writing of the report. I would also like you to include attributions
for who wrote which section of the lab. More than one name per section is acceptable if
appropriate. Please also indicate if there was a part of the lab that was performed by a subset
of the lab group. For instance, if someone leaves early, and the other person/people
finish(es) the lab, that should be indicated. Another example that should be described is that
if some part of a lab is repeated to obtain better results, and not all partners can be present,
the report should provide this information.
10. Appendices
Appendices can be used as sections for very detailed or lengthy sections of information.
Information placed in an Appendix is usually supplementary to, or supportive of the
discussion in the body of the report, but is usually not the most critical to the main points
being made in the report.
Other Suggestions (equally important to the above)
• Please be sure that each table and graph is labeled with a title, numbered, and referenced
in the text. Do not include tables or graphs unless there is at least a sentence or two (and
often there is much more than this needed to explain) in the text so that the reader knows why
the information has been included and what it has to do with the discussion at that place in
the report.
• Please be sure that each table and graph has a caption.