How to format your laboratory report for the ‘Design Your
Own Experiment’ project
Your typed lab report should be double spaced, in 12 pt. Times New Roman or
Garamond font, and include the following information, in this order:
Title, name, & institutional affiliation – 6 points possible
The title of your lab report should reveal the nature of your experiment and the variables
studied
 Be sure to capitalize each word in your title
 Hint: Aim for a length of 12 – 15 words for the title
Include your first and last name (and title, such as ‘Professor’, or ‘Dr.’, if you like)
Include an institutional affiliation, i.e., the organization that you work with (and for whom you
conducted this research – it can be real or made up!
This information should be centered at
the top of your report, not on a separate cover page.
The Introduction will begin immediately after this section (see below.)
Introduction – 22 points possible
Your goal is to explain why you’re doing this research – why is it interesting or important?
Label this section of your paper: ‘Introduction’ and begin your writing on the next line. Include
the following information somewhere within your Introduction section:
 Introduce your focal behavior/area of interest in a clear and engaging way
 Explain the need/relevance of this research clearly and convincingly
 Describe the logic supporting your hypothesis in a persuasive way
 End the Introduction by clearly stating your research hypothesis
Separate the Introduction into paragraphs, and edit for spelling and grammar!
Method – 50 points possible
Note: Your goal is to describe your experimental design in so much detail that a person reading
this paper read it and carry out your study without ever speaking to you! When in doubt, the
more detail you can provide, the better!
Label this section of your paper: ‘Methods’ and begin your writing on the next line. Include the
following information somewhere within your Methods section:
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Your independent and dependent variables
Explanation of how you selected subjects to create a representative sample
Detailed description of your sample (subjects), including:
o Total number of subjects (and number of subjects in the experimental & control
groups)
o Approximate ages of subjects
o Sex/gender of subjects
Explanation of how you randomly assigned subjects to experimental and control
conditions
Explanation of your experimental and control groups
A specific and detailed description of the exact procedure you used to carry out your
experiment. Don’t leave out anything!
Description of the methods you used to reduce research bias
Explanation of how you met ethical guidelines for research with human participants
Separate the Methods section into paragraphs, and edit for spelling and grammar!
Results – 15 points possible
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Data tables containing the data you collected
Graphs containing the data you collected
Discussion – 22 points possible
Note: Your goal is to describe and analyze your results. What did your data show? Why do you
think this happened? What happens next?
Label this section of your paper: ‘Discussion’ and begin your writing on the next line. Include
the following information somewhere within your Discussion section:
 Statement of whether or not your initial hypothesis was supported by the data
 Explanation of the relevance of your findings – what aspects of human behavior does
your research shed light on?
 Description of modifications that should be included in future research on this topic –
including strengthening any weaknesses in your experimental design
Separate the Discussion section into paragraphs, and edit for spelling and grammar!